Dhaka – The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain in three weeks why March 7 should not be declared as ‘National Historic Day.Country’s founding president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had delivered the historical speech on March 7, 1971 at Racecourse Maidan (present day Suhrawardy Udyan) inspiring the people of Bangladesh to go for the Liberation War for the independence of the country.
The HC bench also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to set up a Bangabandhu speech-mode sculpture and a museum at the place where he had delivered the speech on March 7, 1971.
In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-ul Hoque and Justice Mohamamd Ullah also asked the government to explain why a monument should not be built at Suhrawardy Udyan where the Pakistani army had surrendered their arms on December 16, 1971.
The HC bench asked cabinet and finance secretaries to submit a report within three weeks to explain their steps to build the structures in accordance with the court order.
The HC bench set December 12 for passing further order on the matter.
Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Bashir Ahmed filed the petition with the HC seeking necessary order over the matter.
Earlier on October 30, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised the historic March 7 Speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as part of world’s documentary heritage.
Director General of Unesco Irina Bokova announced the decision at the Unesco Headquarters in Paris in last month.
The historic March 7 Speech of the great leader has been included in the memory of the World International Register, a list of world’s important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO. – Staff Reporter
