Eleven opposition lawmakers have moved the High Court challenging the government’s decision to assign ministers, state ministers and whips responsibility for overseeing and coordinating government activities across all 64 districts.
The writ petition was filed on Sunday, with the lawmakers arguing that the district-wise assignments are beyond the government’s legal authority and conflict with the Constitution, the Rules of Business and previous High Court rulings.
The petitioners are all Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MPs.
Their lawyer, Mohammad Shishir Manir, said a similar decision was taken in 2001, when district-level responsibilities were distributed among ministers, state ministers and whips.
A subsequent writ petition led the High Court to declare that decision unconstitutional, he said.
The government issued a gazette on August 27 assigning 30 ministers, state ministers and whips to oversee activities in different districts.
Their responsibilities include monitoring law and order, preventing corruption and drug abuse, promoting good governance, and ensuring transparency, accountability and proper implementation of development and public welfare programmes.
According to the government, the move was prompted by concerns over alleged corruption and misuse of development funds in different districts, including the alleged diversion of proceeds abroad and their use in activities linked to drug abuse and threats to public and state security.
The petitioners, however, contend that such district-level oversight arrangements have no legal basis under the existing constitutional and administrative framework.
The 11 MPs who filed the writ are Muhammad Nazibur Rahman, Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, Md Golam Rabbani, Md Nurul Islam, Md Masud Parves, Muhammad Azizur Rahman, Shaikh Monzurul Haque Rahad, Md Shafiqul Islam, Md Rashedul Islam Rashed, Salah Uddin and Mohammad Zahirul Islam.
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