HC questions legality of newspaper ads to congratulate ministers

The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of government officials' extending greetings to ministers through publishing advertisements in newspapers, spending public money.

It issued a rule asking authorities concerned of the government to explain in two weeks why publishing such advertisements should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the rule, following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

HRPB submitted the petition to the HC on Sunday, annexing advertisements published in Bangla dailies Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin and Jugantor on January 9 where chiefs of Directorate General of Health Services and Directorate General of Family Planning expressed greetings to Health Minister Zahid Malik and State Minister for Health Md Murad Hasan.

During hearing on the petition yesterday, Advocate Manzill Murshid told the HC that the government officials' duty is to save public money, as per the constitution.

The two director generals published advertisements in the newspapers at the cost of public money, which is illegal, he said.

The lawyer also argued that the government officials could extend their greetings to the ministers by meeting them at their offices.