DHAKA: The High Court Sunday issued a rule upon the government to explain within six weeks why the joint forces Immunity Act-2003 legitimizing ‘Operation Clean Heart’ “should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional”.
An HC bench comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Quazi Mohammad Ejharul Haque Akond passed the order in response to a petition filed by Bangladesh Bar Council Executive Member ZDI Khan.
On July 14, the writ petition was filed challenging the legality of the joint forces immunity act.
The court also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to make a fund of Tk 100 crore for compensation of the victims of ‘Operation Clean Heart’.
Secretaries to the ministries of law, home and defense, commander-in-chief of Armed Forces Division and inspector general of police were made respondent to the rule.
On October 16 in 2002 to January 9 in 2003, joint forces led by army had run ‘Operation Clean Heart’ across the country to keep the law-and-order situation under control.
About 50 people were reportedly killed in the operation.
On February 24 in 2003, the BNP-led 4-party alliance government issued a gazette notification to legalize the joint forces Immunity Act-2003 as well as the Operation Clean Heart.
BDST: 1617 HRS, JULY 29, 2012
Edited by: Kaiser Ahmed, Newsroom Editor/ M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
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