Thursday, December 1 2005 10:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: In an unprecedented move, the Bangladesh High Court yesterday (Nov 30, 2005) asked the government to explain why its 'inaction' in conducting effective investigation into court bombings since August 17 and checking such attacks should not be declared a 'failure' in protecting citizens' fundamental rights, court sources said.

A Division Bench gave the directive while hearing a writ petition that alleged inaction on part of the government while bomb attacks continued to occur leading to "the killing of innocent people, including judges, lawyers and litigants".

The court also asked the government why a directive should not be given to take effective steps to hold investigation into "the harbouring of militancy from inside the ruling alliance" by taking cognisance of the allegations made by some ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) members.

In the public-interest litigation the petitioner cited government inefficiency in bringing the perpetrators of unrelenting bombers to justice.

The Bench comprising Justices M A matin and M Rezaul Huq also passed an interim order directing the police to submit a progress report on investigations into the bomb blasts every fortnight, according to private news agency UNB.

Z I Khan Panna, chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Bangladesh Bar Council--a statutory body regulating lawyers-- filed the writ that was moved by veteran jurist Kamal Hossain, a former foriegn minister and leader of the Oikkya Mancha.

The petition questioning the government's sincerity in carrying out investigations into the blasts follows yesterday's deadly bombings that killed lawyers, litigants and law-enforcers in court premises in Gazipur and Chittagong.

Panna submitted that the government "failed to protect the fundamental right to life" of persons within the court premises due to its partial and ineffective investigation of the bomb blasts.

He complained that the government failed to carry out its constitutional duty to provide security of judges, lawyers, police personnel, justice-seekers and court-users.

"Militants are still issuing threats to kill judges, lawyers, officials and innocent citizens," Panna said in his petition.

The lawyers have called for one-day nationwide general strike for Thursday to protest the bombings that left 10 people killed and more than 50 others injured. The opposition has backed the strike.

The banned Jamayatul Mujahideen Bangladesh militant group, seeking to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh, has carried out several attacks targeting courts in Muslim majority Bangladesh.