The High Court (HC) issued a rule upon the government to explain within three weeks why it should not be directed to pay compensation to Prof Muntasir Mamun for arresting him during the BNP-led government.
An HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain on Thursday issued the rule following a long pending petition filed by Muntasir.
Earlier on January 26, 2003, the HC issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to pay compensation to journalist-writer Shahriar Kabir for similar reasons.
They prayed to the HC court to direct the government to pay them Tk 5 crore each in compensation for arresting them causing their financial loss and reputational damage.
They were arrested in December, 2002 on suspicion of anti-state activities. They were both freed later on High Court orders.