Court Correspondent :
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday directed the government to submit a report on expenditure of the state for all the benefits and properties enjoyed by the family members of the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujib.
The government has to submit the report before the court in 30 days.
The High Court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned about the government why they should not be directed to recover the benefits and facilities already enjoyed by the family members of the Father of the Nation and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-Ul Islam issued the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and Assistant Secretary General of Human Rights Support Society Mohammad Moniruzzaman on August 25, seeking necessary directives.
In the petition, he also challenged the legality of the Protection of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009 and the Special Security Forces Act 2021.
The two laws are contradictory to the constitution as those have ensured the facilities of protection and security for only the father of the nation and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and their family members, he also said in the petition.
Other family members of Bangabandhu are the country’s ordinary citizens like others, and providing such facilities for their family members is discriminatory and unconstitutional, he added.
Petitioner Moniruzzaman also prayed to the High Court to pass an order upon the government to recover the benefits and facilities already enjoyed by the family members of the father of the nation and to direct the respondents concerned to stop providing the special security arrangements for Mujib’s family members.
He sought an order from the High Court on the authorities concerned to prepare a report on the matter and submit it before the court.