Bangladesh
High Court High Court wants a list of all laws containing 'Pakistan' word
Dhaka, May 9: The High Court has asked for a list of existing laws of the country that contain the words 'Pakistan', 'Islamic Republic of Pakistan' and 'East Pakistan'. Apart from this, the court issued a ruling seeking to know why the inaction to amend the words Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and East Pakistan from the existing laws of the country would not be invalid. The Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry of the Law Ministry has been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
On Monday, a bench consisting of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Muhammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury of the High Court passed an order along with the ruling after hearing a writ filed by a lawyer of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court lawyer Md. Rabiul Alam filed the writ petition in the court. Lawyer Abdullah Al Masood and lawyer Kamrul Islam heard on behalf of the writ. Deputy Attorney General Barrister Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.
Lawyer Kamrul Islam said, after independence, the prevailing (Pakistan era) laws were adopted. Then the Bangladesh Laws (Revision and Declaration) Act of 1973 asked to drop the words Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and East Pakistan. Then some laws were omitted. However, many laws still have the words.
Such as- The Cattle (Prevention of Trespass) Ordinance 1959, The Engineering and Technological Universities Ordinance 1961, The Agricultural Universities Ordinance 1961, The Agricultural Pests Ordinance 1962, The Indecent Advertisements Prohibition Act 1962, The Censorship of Films Act 1963, The Pilotage Ordinance 1969 and the Government Local Authority Lands and Buildings (Recovery of Possession) Ordinance 1970 are noteworthy.
Lawyer Md. Rabiul Alam filed a writ stating that these words are in violation of the 1973 Act. The High Court ruled on the hearing of the writ. The Secretary of the Ministry of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs of the Ministry of Law has been asked to form a committee of 5 members to list these laws. Lawyer Kamrul Islam said that a list must be submitted within 60 days.
