DHAKA: The High Court on Sunday (July 15) issued a rule asking authorities concerned of the government to explain within four weeks why the amended gazette notification declaring freedom fighters’ minimum age at 12.5 years should not be declared illegal.

The High Court bench of Justices Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Md. Ashraful Kamal issued the rule following a writ challenging the government decision.

Director of Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) Mahmud Hasan filed the writ petition.       
Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, its secretary, Secretary of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Finance secretary, Director General of National Freedom Fighters Command Council, Joint secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry and director general of Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) were made respondents to the rule. 

ABM Altaf Hossain moved for the writ in court while deputy attorney general Ekramul Huq Tutul moved for the state.

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued the gazette in 2016 imposing the minimum age of freedom fighters at 13 years as on March 26 in 1971. Later on January 17 in 2018, amended the gazette notification declaring the minimum age at 12 years and six months.

Later Mahmud Hasan, who was also a freedom fighter and a public servant, filed the writ challenging the gazette as created some complications with his age.

BDST: 1835 HRS, JULY 15, 2018
AP/SMS