The High Court (HC) has directed the government to take appropriate measures against Kazi Anis Ahmed, a director of Gemcon Group, to prevent him from hiring foreign lobbyists or disseminating content that casts Bangladesh in a negative light, particularly in relation to religious freedom.
Additionally, the HC instructed the home, finance, and foreign secretaries, as well as Bangladesh Bank, to investigate the allegations against Kazi Anis and submit a report within the next 90 days.
The directive was issued by the HC bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi after hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Moniruzzaman and poet-writer Ahsan Akbar, the founder of Dhaka Lit Fest.
In its ruling, the HC asked the respondents to explain why their failure to investigate and take action against Kazi Anis for allegedly setting up foreign business entities without permission and spreading misinformation about Bangladesh should not be declared illegal.
Furthermore, the court sought clarification on why they should not be directed to initiate a thorough investigation into his foreign business activities.
The case underscores growing concerns over external lobbying efforts and the portrayal of Bangladesh in international discourse, with the judiciary stepping in to scrutinise the alleged activities of influential business figures.