Why March 7 not ‘a national day’, HC asks govt

The High Court (HC) issued on Monday a rule upon the government to explain in three weeks as to why directives should not be given to declare March 7 as 'a national day', report agencies.

The HC in its rule also asked as to why a Bangabandhu speech-mode sculpture and a museum will not be set up at the place where the March 7 speech was delivered.

The HC bench of Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohamamd Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition on the issue.

Six secretaries, including that of the Cabinet, Finance, Public Works, Culture and Education, were made respondents to the rule.

Besides, the court asked the cabinet secretary to submit comprehensive report by December 12 on the steps taken following issuance of the rule.

A writ petition was filed seeking HC directives to reinstate the stage at the place where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had delivered the March 7 speech, laid down by Pakistani force and gratitude extended to then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Bangladesh and set up an sculpture of Bangabandhu, a museum and declare the day as the national historic one.

Advocate Dr Basir Ahmed filed the petition on Sunday.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on October 30 recognised the Bangabandhu's historic March 7 as part of the world's documentary heritage.