The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s verdict declaring "Joy Bangla" as the national slogan of Bangladesh.
The decision was delivered on Tuesday (10 December) by a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed.
Earlier, the government filed the leave to appeal petition with the SC seeking stay on the HC verdict that on March 10, 2020 declared "Joy Bangla" as the country's national slogan and ordered the government to take necessary steps so that the slogan is used at all state functions and academic institutions' assemblies.
"'Joy Bangla' will not be considered a national slogan following this Appellate Division order," said Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque, who appeared for the state during the hearing of the petition.
At the same time, the court allowed the state to file a regular appeal against the High Court's verdict.
The state, on 2 December, filed the plea with the relevant wing of the Appellate Division.
On 10 March 2020, the High Court bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader delivered the verdict declaring "Joy Bangla" the national slogan.
In the order, written in Bengali, the court had stated, "We declare that Joy Bangla shall be the national slogan of Bangladesh."
The High Court issued the verdict following a hearing on a writ petition filed in 2017 by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed.
Making "Joy Bangla" the national slogan, the then Awami League government, in a gazette notification on 2 March 2022, had made it mandatory to utter the two words at all government offices during national celebrations.
It was made mandatory for all constitutional post holders, officials and staffers of autonomous, statutory and all government offices at home and abroad to chant the slogan after their speeches in observation of all national days and other state and government programmes, read the notification.
Moreover, it was made compulsory for teachers and students to say "Joy Bangla" after daily assemblies at educational institutions, rallies, and seminars as well.
Before that notification was issued, the cabinet, on 20 February that year, had decided to make "Joy Bangla" the national slogan in line with the 2020 High Court declaration.
