HC asks govt to explain within four weeks
The High Court issued a rule yesterday asking the government to explain within four weeks why the notification scrapping November 7 as a public holiday “should not be declared illegal”.
A division bench comprising Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and Justice M Rezaul Huq issued the rule following a writ petition, filed under a move for restoring the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' marking late president general Ziaur Rahman's accession to power amid a political changeover in 1975.
Former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman filed the writ petition challenging the validity of the interim government's notification scrapping November 7 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' as a public holiday.
Last year, the interim government at a meeting of advisers with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair decided that the November 7 public holiday would be cancelled with effect from 2008.
The day was being observed as National Revolution and Solidarity Day at state level since 1976, the year after what is known as 'sepoy-people uprising' amid a political turmoil in a sequel to the August 15, 1975 coup that toppled the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib government through the assassination of the independence leader along with most members of his family.
Coming to power in 1996, the Awami League government led by his daughter Sheikh Hasina cancelled the day as a public holiday.
The occasion was resumed as public holiday in 2001, when the BNP-led four-party alliance returned to power, under a continuing tug-of-war over the issue.
Advocate Adilur Rahman Suvra appeared for the petitioner.
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