Ban on Ahmadiya books: HC asks Govt to show cause
By Humayun Kabir Chowdhury
Jan 2, 2005, 11:36

The High Court Division of the Supreme Court yesterday asked the Government to show cause why the banning of some publications of the Ahmadia Muslim Jamat of Bangladesh (AMJB) should not be declared illegal being ultra vires of the Constitution.

Justice M A Matin and Justice AFM Abdur Rahman of the High Court Division issued the rules on four officials returnable in three weeks.

The respondents are Secretary and the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Home Ministry, the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Controller of the Bangladesh Government Press.

The court also stayed the order for a further period of three weeks.

In the face of campaign to declare Kadiyanis of Ahmadiyya Jamat, as non-Muslims initiated by Anti-Ahmadiyya Zealots and backed by some fundamentalist groups , the Government banned 20 publications (10 books and 10 pamphlets) on January 8 last. The Government did not, however, publish the gazette on the ban on Ahmadiya publications till date.

AK Rezaul Karim, a member of AMJB and six Social organizations; Adhikar, Sammilita Shangskritic Jote, Ain-o-Salish Kendra, Karmajibi Nari , Jatiya Ainjibi Parisad and another filed a writ petition questioning the order as ultr vires of the fundamental rights enunciated in the Constitution.

They came up before the Vacation Bench of the High Court Division presided over by Justice ABM Khairul Huq with the writ petition . The Judge stayed the order of the Government banning the publications till the Court re-opened yesterday after winter vacation.

The Judge also restrained the Government from publishing the Gazette of the ban till that date.

Dr. Kamal Hussain appearing on behalf of the petitioners yesterday argued that the order of ban of the Ahmadiya books were wholly illegal and violative of the fundamental rights of the citizens to cultivate their own religion peacefully.

Dr. Kamal Hussain was assisted by Barristers Tanjibul Alam and Sara Husain. Additional Attorney General Fida M Kamal stood for the Government.

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