The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking why Nobel Laureate and interim head of government Dr. Muhammad Yunus should not be declared a “National Reformer.”
The court also questioned why those killed during the July 24 uprising—including Abu Saeed and Mugdho—should not be officially recognized as “National Martyrs.”
The bench, comprising Justice Fahmida Khatun and Justice Syed Zahed Mansur, issued the rule following a primary hearing on a writ petition filed in February by Dhaka Union of Journalists member Imdadul Haque (also known as White Man).
The writ petition seeks a directive to recognize Dr. Yunus for his role in leading the nation through a post-uprising transition and to publish the full list of victims of the July 24 events, officially honoring them as martyrs of the nation.
Barrister Mohammad Ali Jinnah represented the petitioner in court, while Deputy Attorney General Shafiqul Rahman and Assistant Attorney General Ikramul Kabir appeared on behalf of the state.
Following the court’s order, Barrister Jinnah told the media that Dr. Yunus stepped forward with courage to guide the country after the political upheaval. “He announced his intention to reconstruct the state and initiated a series of reforms, forming commissions to restructure key institutions, including the judiciary and the Election Commission,” he said.
The lawyer also stated that, excluding the party of the former authoritarian regime, all political forces have expressed consensus support for Yunus. “We filed the writ to officially recognize him as a National Reformer due to his commitment and actions toward reshaping the nation. Similarly, those who were killed during the uprising—like Abu Saeed and Mugdho—deserve to be named as National Martyrs,” Jinnah added.
The court directed the Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Public Administration, Law, Defence, Information, and Finance Ministries to respond to the rule.
