‘Joy Bangla’ no more national slogan

‘Joy Bangla’ is no more 'national slogan' of Bangladesh now as the apex court issues stay.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Tuesday issued the order of stay on a High Court verdict that had declared it as national slogan.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order after granting a leave-to-appeal petition filed by the state seeking stay on the HC verdict, now that there has been regime change through the toppling of Awami League government.

Additional Attorney-General Barrister Aneeq R Haque appeared in the court hearing in support of the state stand on the matter.

Earlier on December 2 this year, the state filed the petition for stay on the impugned High Court verdict.

Following a writ petition, the High Court on March 10, 2020 delivered the verdict declaring 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan of the country.

An HC bench comprising Justice F R M Nazmul Ahasan and Justice K M Kamrul Kader had delivered the verdict declaring absolute a rule issued earlier in this regard.

The High Court bench also asked the respondents to take appropriate initiatives so that all the constitutional post-holders and the government officials pronounce 'Joy Bangla' after their speech in all government programmes organised in the national days and in other relevant functions.

Later on February 20 in 2022, the cabinet of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan and issued a gazette notification to this effect.

Advocate Bashir Ahmed, a pro-Awami League Supreme Court lawyer, filed the writ petition with the High Court in 2017 seeking its order to declare 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan.

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