DHAKA: Bangladesh’s supreme court has stayed a high court verdict that declared ‘Joy Bengali‘ – popularized by Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – as the country’s national slogan,
Rahman’s daughter Sheikh Hasina was ousted as prime minister on Aug 5 following a students’ protest and an interim govt headed by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus took over on Aug 8.
Following the change of government, the state moved on Dec 2 to suspend the high court’s ruling of March 2020. The high court had ordered government to take steps to use the slogan at state functions and academic institutions’ assemblies.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order Tuesday, saying the national slogan is a matter of government’s policy decision and judiciary cannot interfere.