Dhaka: Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has formed a separate bench at the High Court for holding hearings and rapid disposal of Waqf cases. The two-member division bench, comprising Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Md Mansur Alam, will begin hearing the cases from 10:30 am on June 29. The bench will prioritize matters related to Waqf cases, liberation war affairs, and writ motions regarding income tax, among other issues, as stated in a Supreme Court notice.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, an official release mentioned that Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. AFM Khalid Hossain had previously called on the chief justice to bring attention to the matter. The chief justice assured him of his kind consideration. The release, signed by Ministry of Religious Affairs Spokesperson Md Abu Bakar Siddique, highlighted that hundreds of cases concerning Waqf administration have been pending in the High Court for many years. This backlog has disrupted the order of the Waqf estate, leading to the loss of many lands under Waqf administration.
If this newly formed bench, tasked with hearing Waqf-related cases, can resolve the pending issues within a reasonable timeframe, it is expected that the management of Waqf property will regain vitality and momentum.