The High Court on Sunday asked Home and Law Secretaries to explain in writing within June 18 as to why sanction has not been granted as posted by the designated court although four months have elapsed in a case filed against leaders of the outlawed Hizb ut-Tahrir under the Anti-Terrorism Act.According to the section 40 (2) of the Anti Terrorism Act, no court shall take any offence under this Act into cognisance without government sanction.
Passing the interim order, an HC division bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice M Akram Hossain granted bail for four months to accused M Sohan Hafiz, M Abu Sufian and Abdul Jabber Rajib in connection with the case as the trio had been in custody since then.
On August 13 last year, members of elite force Rab-2 held M Sohan Hafiz, M Abu Sufian and Abdul Jabber Rajib while distributing leaflets and books of Hizb ut-Tahrir and later filed the case against them for their criminal exercise.
On February 2 this year, the designated court sent a proposal to the Ministry for Home Affairs for sanction in this regard. But it is yet to be approved.
Emerging from the court, junior government attorney Gazi Mamunur Rashid told reporters that the case under the Anti Terrorism Act requires a prior government sanction. But no timeframe has been mentioned in the Act in this respect, he added. (Source: UNB)
