The High Court on Monday issued a rule seeking answers as to why all the shopping malls, airports, bus terminals, seaports and railway stations and workplaces in the country should not be instructed to reserve places to perform prayers.
A virtual bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the rule.
Advocate Ilias Ali Mandal was present in the court on behalf of the writ petition. Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar and Assistant Attorney General Md Selim Azad were on behalf of the state.
The Cabinet secretary, secretaries of the Ministry of Religion, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Local Government have been asked to respond to the rule within the next four weeks.
At the same time, the court also sought reasons as to why the government's inaction in ensuring religious rights would not be declared illegal.