Lakehead 'Terror Link': HC questions govt's decision about closure

The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of the government's decision to stop the activities of two branches of Lakehead Grammar School in the capital on charges of patronising religious extremism and militancy.

It issued two rules asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why the decision to stop the school's activities should not be declared illegal.

In the rules, the court also asked the authorities to show causes why they should not be directed to allow the school run its activities.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the rules after hearing three writ petitions challenging the legality of the government's decision.

Advocate AF Hasan Ariff, barrister Akhter Imam and barrister Rashna Imam appeared for the petitioners, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the government.

Talking to The Daily Star, Hasan Ariff said the HC issued the rules on the grounds that the government stopped functions of the school branches without issuing any prior notice to the its authorities.

The government can take action against anyone of the school if he is involved in any criminal activities, but the educational activities of its students cannot be stopped, he added.

The lawyer also said they would move the petitions before the HC on Sunday seeking a stay order on the government's decision so that the school can run its activities as usual.  

The Dhaka district administration on Tuesday sealed both the Dhanmondi and Gulshan branches of the school on charges of patronising militancy, inspiring extremist views and helping form militant outfits.

Two teams of the district administration, led by two executive magistrates, conducted raids on the campuses of the English medium school in the evening as ordered by the Dhaka deputy commissioner.

Later, the school's property was handed over to its administration officer, who gave an undertaking that all the activities of the school would remain suspended for an indefinite period.

Yesterday, proprietor of the school Khaled Hassan Matin and guardians of two students submitted the writ petitions to the HC seeking stay on the government's decision.

In the petitions, they said the educational activities of the school have been hampered due to the government decision and therefore, the education of the students has become uncertain.