HC seeks details on state spending for Bangabandhu's family

The High Court has issued a rule asking about the amount of money spent by the state for safeguarding the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the Protection of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam issued the ruling today after a hearing on a relevant petition filed in public interest.

In the ruling, the court also sought information entailing what benefits the family members had availed and properties they got as special benefits.

The secretaries of law, home affairs and finance have been directed to submit a report in this regard within a month.

The HC bench also asked why the facilities and properties allotted to Bangabandhu's family should not be withdrawn.

Earlier on 25 August, Advocate Mohammad Moniruzzaman, a Supreme Court lawyer and assistant secretary general of the Human Rights Support Society, filed a writ petition with the High Court, challenging some sections of the Protection of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009 and the Special Security Forces Act 2021.

In the hearing, lawyer Chowdhury Ishraq Ahmed Siddique moved for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Redwan Ahmed Ranjib represented the state.

The petition seeks to declare several sections of the two acts unconstitutional and illegal, specifically targeting sections 2(b), 2(c), 8(1), 8(3), 8(4), and 9(2), which provide for the protection of family members of Bangabandhu.

The writ petition mentions 11 defendants, including secretaries of law, home affairs and finance ministries, the Special Security Forces DG, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajib Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, daughters Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq.