HC orders to use ‘Joy Bangla’ as national slogan from 16 Dec

The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to take steps to ensure the use of 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan from 16 December next.

The HC bench of justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order after the hearing of a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed.

The court also fixed 14 January for the next hearing.

Deputy attorney general Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar said 'Joy Bangla' slogan has to be used at the beginning and end of any state programme.

Lawyer Yusuf Hossain Humayun stood for the petitioner while attorney general Mahbubey Alam and deputy attorney general Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar stood for the state.

Lawyer Shafique Ahmed, Abdul Matin Khasru and Supreme Court Ainjibi president A M Amin Uddin were also present during the hearing.

The lawyers who stood for the petitioner said "Joy Bangla" was the main slogan during the Liberation War in 1971. Even, some poets, litterateurs and intellectuals of the then West Pakistan who had supported the Liberation War of Bangladesh used to chant slogan "Joy Bangla", they said.

The freedom fighters embraced death chanting "Joy Bangla" slogan after being captured by Pakistan occupation forces.

The writ was filed on 4 December 2017.

Following the writ, an HC bench of justice Kazi Reza-u-l Haque and justice Mohammad Ullah issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why "Joy Bangla" should not be declared as the national slogan.