Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has deferred its hearing to March 12 regarding an appeal that challenges the High Court's decision, which deemed government circulars and gazette notifications concerning the minimum age of freedom fighters as illegal. The adjournment was announced by a four-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, who stated, "Heard in part and adjourned to March 12."
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the state during the proceedings, while Barrister Omar Sadat advocated for the writ petitioners. The controversy stems from a 2014 government circular that set the minimum age for freedom fighters at 13 years as of 1971, a decision formalized in a gazette notification on November 10, 2016. However, this age requirement was revised on January 31, 2018, when the government amended it to 12 and a half years as of 1971.
This alteration led freedom fighters to file separate writ petitions in 2016, 2017, and 2018, contesting these circulars and notifications. Subsequently, on May 19, 2019, the High Court declared these circulars and notifications, as well as part of section 2 (11) of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust law, illegal and contradictory to the constitution.
In response, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Jatio Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka) filed a leave to appeal petition against the High Court's decision. The apex court accepted the appeal and imposed a status quo on the High Court's verdict.