The Supreme Court today upheld a notice issued by the Dhaka University's Bangla department asking its students to keep their faces, including their ears, uncovered during exams and presentations.

The Appellate Division of the SC stayed a High Court order that halted the effectiveness of the notice issued by the department on December 11 last year.

The apex court, however, asked the HC to hear and dispose of the rule in two months. The rule ordered the authorities concerned to explain why the department's decision should not be declared illegal.

A full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order following a leave to appeal petition filed by the Bangla department challenging the HC order.

Writ petitioners' lawyer Faizullah Faiz told The Daily Star that following the apex court's order, the students under the department can be identified during exams.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared for DU Bangla department while lawyer Belayet Hossain argued for the writ petitioners during the hearing today.

Responding to a writ petition filed by three students of the department, the HC on March 28 stayed for six months the effectiveness of the notice and also issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain why the department's decision should not be declared illegal.

The High Court today directed the authorities concerned to stop DJ party, illegal and cruel activities and bullying in the name of rag day at all educational institutions in 30 days.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks why their inaction to stop such activities at the institutions should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of education, cultural affairs, and information and broadcasting; vice chancellors of universities concerned, inspector general of police; chairman of University Grants Commission and director general of Secondary Education Board have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Khizir Hayat came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan seeking necessary directives on the issue.

Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state during hearing of the petition.

The High Court will deliver its order tomorrow on a bail petition filed by Zahirul Islam Zia, an accused of a rape case in Feni who married his victim at Feni jail gate in order to get bail in line with a directive from the High Court.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman today fixed the date for holding hearing and passing order on Zahirul's bail petition in the rape case.

Earlier in the day, Zahirul's lawyer Faruque Alamgir Chowdhury placed the bail petition before the bench and prayed to the court to grant bail to his client as he (Zahirul) married the victim in line with its conditional directive.

Read more: HC Terms for Bail: Rape accused marries victim in Feni jail

Meanwhile, authorities concerned of Feni jail submitted a report to the HC bench through its registrar's office, saying that accused Zahirul has married the victim at the jail gate on November 19 in presence of local officials and distinguished persons, Zahirul's lawyer Faruque Alamgir Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Zahirul, the accused, son of a local union parishad member, raped the woman of Chardarbesh area in Feni's Sonagazi on May 27, according to the case statement.

He married his victim at Feni jail gate on November 19 in order to get bail in line with a directive from the HC.

On May 29, police arrested Zia, who later filed a bail petition with the HC.

Both the victim and the accused said they were involved in a romantic relationship and got intimate after Zia promised to marry her. As he refused to keep his promise, she filed a rape case against him, said court sources.

The High Court today granted anticipatory bail for eight weeks to actors Rafiath Rashid Mithila and Sabnam Faria in a case filed against them over fraud -- for their involvement with e-commerce platform Evaly.

The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Atoar Rahman granted them bail following two separate petitions filed by them seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

The accused petitioners appeared before the bench for bail during hearing of the petitions.

On December 4, am aggrieved customer of Evaly -- Saad Sam Rahman -- filed the case with Dhanmondi Police Station against nine people including Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel, Chairman Shamima Nasrin, musician Tahsan Khan, and actors Mithila and Faria.

The other accused in the case are: Akash, Arif, Taher and Md Abu Taish Kayes.

According to the case, celebrities Tahsan, Mithila and Faria were in different positions at Evaly. Because of their presence and their various promotional talks, Saad Sam invested Tk 3,18,000 in Evaly.

The plaintiff alleged that he was deceived because of the promotional talks of the celebrities.

Tahsan was the Goodwill Ambassador of Evaly, and Mithila was associated with Evaly as the face of the company's lifestyle products. Faria joined as Chief Public Relations Officer.