DHAKA: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (December 05) directed the education ministry to form a managing committee in seven days to run the Lakehead Grammar School, which was shut down recently.

The apex court in its order asked the ministry to form the managing committee headed by a divisional commissioner where the persons from the military background will be included. The principal of the institution will also be from the military background.   

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order after hearing a leave to appeal petition filed by the government against the HC verdict.

The Supreme Court said that that the committee will run the branches of the school until the Appellate Division hears and disposes of the appeal filed by the government against the High Court verdict that ordered the authorities to reopen the Dhanmondi and Gulshan branches of the school in Dhaka within 24 hours.

Senior lawyers of the Supreme Court AF Hasan Arif, Barrister Akhter Imam and Barrister Rashna Imam stood for Lakehead Grammar School in the court, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved for the state.

On November 14, the HC ordered the authorities concerned to reopen the school following a writ petition filed by owner of the school Khaled Hasan Matin and 12 other students.

On November 06, the government decided to stop all operations of two branches of Lakehead Grammar School for not having government approval and having alleged link with militancy.
On November 7, the Dhaka district administration sealed off the two branches of the Lakehead Grammar School and shut down all activities of the school on charges of patronizing extremism and militancy.

The government alleged that the school was patronizing militancy, promoting extremist views and providing support in the formation of militant outfits.

On November 09, the HC hear the writ petition of Khaled Hasan Matin and the 12 students and issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain that why the school won’t be reopened.   

On November 14, the HC asked to reopen the school within 24 hours. Later, chamber judges of the apex court stayed the HC verdict.

On November 19, the SC extended for 10 days its earlier order.

BDST: 1230 HRS, DEC 05, 2017
EHJ/SMS