The High Court today issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to demarcate the exact place at Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered the historical speech on March 7, 1971 declaring independence of Bangladesh.

In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show causes why they should not be ordered to preserve the place establishing a statue that bears a resemblance to the original stage from where the speech was delivered by Bangabandhu and to commemorate the significance of philosophy of the historical March 7 speech.

The secretaries to the ministries of liberation war affair, cultural affair and information, director general of the department of archeology and the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation have been made respondents to the rule.

The High Court bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by four architects including Mohammad Abduall Al Masum seeking necessary directives to preserve the historical place at Suhrawardy Udyan.

On March 7 in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his fiery speech at the Race-course Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) called on the freedom-loving Bangalis to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistani rulers.