‘What steps were taken to preserve Shaheed Minar?’

The High Court yesterday wanted to know what steps have been taken to implement its 2010 directives for preserving the dignity and sanctity of Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, which was set up to maintain the spirit of the 1952 Language Movement and show respect to the language heroes. 

The 2010 HC directives include preparing a list of language heroes, publishing the list in a gazette notification, and constructing a library and Language Movement museum beside the Shaheed Minar.

Yesterday, the HC ordered authorities concerned of the government to submit a report on the steps taken to comply with the directives in four weeks and also fixed April 25 for passing further directives.

The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil came up with the order following a contempt petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on March 4 against the authorities on charge of not implementing all the 2010 directives.

Petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told the HC bench that few of the 2010 directives were implemented, but the complete list of language heroes was not prepared, and the Language Movement museum has not been established, even after 10 years.

Following a writ petition filed by HRPB, another HC bench on August 25, 2010 issued eight directives upon the government to protect the sanctity and dignity of Central Shaheed Minar.

The bench had ordered to set up Shaheed Minars at premises of all universities and other educational institutions across the country, to show respect to the memories of the language heroes.

It directed the authorities to set up a museum and library at any side of the Central Shaheed Minar and take effective measures so that no unsocial activities can take place on its premises.

It asked the government to take effective measures, so that no function or meeting can be held at the original Bedi (main part) of Shaheed Minar. It, however, ruled that there would be no embargo in holding any function outside the original Bedi.

The HC ordered to form a committee for preparing a list of language heroes and publish it in a gazette notification by January 31, 2012.

The bench asked the cultural affairs ministry to appoint three security guards to protect the Shaheed Minar area.

It also directed the government to honour the language movement heroes, both dead and alive with posthumous and other awards for their contribution to the language movement.

The government was also asked to invite language movement heroes in all state programmes and ensure all governmental facilities to them.