Bangladesh News

The High Court (HC) yesterday refused to accept a writ petition seeking a directive for the authorities not to arrest or harass Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on her return home.

An HC bench turned down the application for permission to file the petition on grounds of procedural flaws.

The lawyers who moved for it then went to another bench but that too declined to receive the affidavit regarding the intended petition.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed and Mahbubey Alam are among the lawyers working for a court order not to detain Hasina on her arrival without lawful authority.

Speaking to the reporters, they said some flaws were there in the way the power of attorney has been given to the AL chief’s Protocol Officer Manzila Faruque.

Shafique said they would move again after rectifying the errors.

Meanwhile, the government has yet to respond to an HC rule on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s alleged confinement.

The HC on April 22 issued the rule asking the interim administration to explain within five days why the court will not direct that the former prime minister be produced before it to prove that she is not confined to her residence.

The rule followed frenzied speculations that Khaleda was under pressure to go into exile.

Additional Attorney General Salauddin Ahmed who stood for the state told The Daily Star that the reply is ready but as the matter was not on the cause list yesterday, they could not submit it.

He said they will submit the answer as soon as the matter is back on the cause list.