Writ seeks 10% freedom fighter seat at House

A rights organisation today filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking 10 percent seats for the freedom fighters in the parliament and local government institutions.

Barura Shikkha and Manob Kalyan Trust submitted the petition, also challenging the inaction of the government for not preserving 10 percent seats in parliament and local government institutions.

The rights body’s Chairman Advocate Md Arifur Rahman Majumder said in the petition: “During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, thousands of brilliant sons of this soil actively participated for emergence of Bangladesh with a patriotic zeal, indomitable will and firm determination”.

“Millions of great sons of this country laid down their valuable lives without any hesitation for the supreme cause of independence which is unprecedented in the history of the world,” he said.

The petitioner said in the petition that for the advancement of their work it is necessary to have their own representation, and for this a quota is to be preserved in the parliament for the freedom fighters to be elected to point out prevailing problems and systematical solution to those.

In the petition, he prayed to the High Court to issue a rule upon the respondents to explain why their inaction to preserve 10 percent seats for the freedom fighters in the parliament and local government institutions should not be declared illegal.

Secretary to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Command Council and Law Secretary have been made respondents to the rule.

Advocate Arifur Rahman told The Daily Star that the High Court may hold hearing on the petition next Sunday.