Banglasdesh Observer

HC orders status quo on all kinds of transaction

10 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Unb, Dhaka

The High Court today directed The Bangladesh Observer's publishing organisation Al-Helal Printing and Publishers Ltd to maintain status quo on all kinds of transaction on all moveable and immovable properties including bank accounts, investment and securities. Justice Sayed Refat Ahmed came up with the order following a petition of 31 journalists and employees of the organisation who have not been paid for at least 11 years. The HC on June 7 issued a ruling asking the authorities concerned of Al-Helal Printing and Publishers Ltd to explain within four weeks as to why they should not be directed to windup the press. Chairman of Al-Helal Printing and Publishers Ltd, which publishes the Observer, Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury and its three directors have been asked to respond to the ruling. The court also fixed July 12 for further order on the petition. Thirty-one journalists and employees of the recently closed English daily filed the petition as the authorities did not pay their dues of Tk 80,32,9582.