HC asks why govt should not formulate guideline

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to formulate a judicial guideline to determine safe custody for victims.

In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show causes why the order issued by the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) in Dhaka to send Lira Barua, who was allegedly forced to convert to Islam, to the custody of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of women and children, law and home affairs; inspector general of police; CMM of Dhaka; and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad have been made respondents to the rule, writ petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua told The Daily Star.  

The HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Lira Barua’s father Devabrata Barua, challenging the legality of Dhaka CMM’s order.

Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua said the CMM of Dhaka on November 5 last year illegally sent Lira, who went out of her house in Chattogram on October 20 last year, to the custody of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.     

The lawyer refused to give details on issues relating to Lira Barua for ethical reasons.