Fatwa in Moulvibazar
HC summons 10 arbitrators
The High Court (HC) yesterday summoned 10 local arbitrators of Moulvibazar to appear before it on March 10 to explain their conduct of organising a fatwa against a local couple.
In response to a writ petition, an HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain also directed the officer-in-charge of Moulvibazar Police Station to ensure their appearance.
The arbitrators are Wahidur Rahman Mesba, Mahbubur Rahman, Samir Mian, Abul Kalam, Mobassar Mian, Rakib Mian, Mohan Mian, Mujahid, Fakhrul Islam and Mesbahur Rahman.
Two arbitrators -- Foyzur Rahman, also secretary of a local mosque committee, and influential Askar Mia -- appeared before the bench yesterday as per its February 13 order. They mentioned that the 10 organised the fatwa in the name of Ponchayet.
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the petition on February 13 following a report published in the daily Janakantha on February 10.
The report said Rabeya Khatun and her husband Koychor Mia of Barokapon village of Ekutana union of Moulvibazar sadar upazila are on the run in fear of the fatwa.
The arbitrators in the fatwa directed Rabeya to marry a man, the report said.
Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain stood for the government.
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