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HC stays DU Bangla dept’s niqab ban for six months

Staff Correspondent
29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 | Update: 28 Mar 2023 22:40:24
HC stays DU Bangla dept’s niqab ban for six months

The High Court on Tuesday stayed for six months the move taken by Dhaka University’s Bangla Department that asked its female students to keep their faces, including their ears, visible during examinations and presentations.

A bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali issued the order following a writ petition filed by three students of DU Bangla department challenging the legality of the decision.

The court also issued a rule, asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks as to why the DU Bangla Department’s decision should not be declared illegal.

The education secretary, DU vice-chancellor and its tegistrar and chairman of Bangla department were instructed to respond to the rule.

Quoting the High Court bench, defence lawyer Faizullah Faiz said, “Every person has the freedom to practice their own religion. That is the spirit of our constitution. No one can be forced to keep their faces and ears uncovered.”

On December 11, 2022, DU Bangla department issued a notice, instructing female students to keep their faces and ears visible during all examinations, including viva and presentations.

It was also mentioned in the notice that if anyone violates the instruction, action would be taken against them as per the university regulations.

Later on December 19, lawyer Faizullah Foyez on behalf of the three students of Bangla Department filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the notice.

During the hearing, lawyer Faizullah Foyez stood for the writ while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.

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