The High Court yesterday rejected a writ petition lodged last year seeking directives for dialogue between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the then opposition leader Khaleda Zia as the plea has now become ineffective.
The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed delivered the verdict saying that no confrontational situation for such exists in the country at present and Khaleda Zia was not more the opposition leader.
“The court has said the situation has calmed in respect to the time when the rule was issued. In addition, Khaleda is no more the opposition leader of the parliament. So, as the rule is of no value now, it has been discharge which means that the petition is refused,” Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond, who is also the petitioner of the writ petition, told reporters.
On March 27 last year, the High Court sought explanations as to why the ruling Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and the then Opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should not be ordered to begin a dialogue to ensure a free and fair national election. The High Court also wanted to know why the home secretary should not be directed to take steps to cease ‘illegal activities’ like bombs attacks, arson and vandalism in the name of political activities.
