HC seeks judge's explanation for violation

The High Court yesterday directed Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zahirul Haque to explain by November 26 why he took charges of two cases filed under Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 into cognizance without government approval.
The court also summoned the cases' two investigation officers on November 26 to explain why they investigated the cases without the district magistrate's approval.
The act's provisions state that the two approvals must be taken.
The court was hearing on bail petitions filed by four Hizb ut-Tahrir activists accused in the cases filed with Sher-e Bangla Nagar and Mohammadpur police stations on June 11 and 24 respectively.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the government would immediately issue a gazette notification containing a provision for trying activists of five banned outfits under the act.
The five are Hizb ut-Tahrir; Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh; Jagroto Muslim Janata; Harkatul Jihad al Islami; and Shahadat-e Al Hikma.