HC summons editor of daily over hiding info
The High Court yesterday summoned editor of Bangla daily Vorer Pata, Dr Kazi Ertaza Hasan, to appear before it for concealing information in a writ petition claiming the book “Bangladesh Bank-er Itihash (History of Bangladesh Bank)” distorted history.
The bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali, which was scheduled yesterday to deliver a verdict on the writ petition, ordered Ertaza to appear before it on July 30 to explain his role.
The court delivered the summons order after Bangladesh Bank lawyer Barrister Ajmalul Hossain QC said Ertaza has not disclosed facts and authentic information in his writ petition, and had an ulterior motive behind filing the petition.
Ertaza Hasan, also the chairperson of Bangladesh Human Rights Development Commission, submitted the petition in October last year saying that Bangladesh Bank in December 2017 published the book, in which a picture of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not included, and his contribution in establishing Bangladesh Bank was not mentioned in detail.
In the book, pictures of then Pakistan president Ayub Khan and then East Pakistan provincial governor Abdul Monem Khan have been published, he said in the petition, adding that the independence and the Liberation War of Bangladesh have been diminished due to this act.
Yesterday, Barrister Ajmalul told the HC that the central bank authorities have taken all necessary steps including forming an internal committee to correct the issues in the book, and also decided not to distribute the book, before Ertaza filed the petition.
Bangladesh Bank authorities also republished the book including the picture of Bangabandhu and his contribution in establishing the central bank, the counsel said, adding that Ertaza did not include this information in his writ petition.
The HC on October 2 directed the finance secretary to form a probe committee to find the people responsible for distorting history in the book, and issued a rule asking respondents to explain why the distortion of history of Bangladesh in the book should not be declared illegal.
On February 19, the HC directed the government to immediately confiscate all copies of the book from the market.
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