DHAKA: The High Court Sunday ordered the government not to bar former foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, now a leader of the opposition BNP, from going abroad.

At the same time, the HC bench of Justice Abdul Wahab Mia and Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque also issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why the restrictions already imposed “should not be declared illegal”.

“As per the constitution, country’s every citizen has the right to move freely. Imposing restriction on one’s movement is considered illegal,” Chowdhry’s lawyer, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, said during the hearing on a writ petition filed by Mobin, bailed out from jail a few days back.

“Chowdhury was a freedom fighter and former foreign secretary, why he should be barred from going abroad?” Hossain posed the question to government attorneys.

Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury was among the BNP leaders and activists arrested during the June 27 hartal. He came out on July 22.  

On July 29, Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury was intercepted at Shahjalal International Airport and prevented from leaving the country.

Facing the bar, Mobin Chowdhry filed the writ petition asking why this restriction should not be declared illegal.

BDST: 1556 HRS. AUGUST 1, 2010