Legal notice demands banners at every institution in favour of ‘yes’ vote in referendum

Bangla Press Desk: A Supreme Court lawyer on Tuesday served a legal notice to the government, seeking immediate enforcement mechanism to ensure that two large banners are hung in front of every office and institution to garner public support for the “Yes” vote in the July Charter Implementation referendum.

Despite the government’s instructions in this regard, a quarter of field-level public employees are reportedly unwilling to conduct mass campaigns in favour of the referendum on state reforms, alleged Advocate Md Kamruzzaman in the legal notice.

Some politicians have also taken a stand against the referendum, the advocate claimed.

The Supreme Court lawyer demand government higher authorities enforce their decisions to promote the referendum, warning he would file a writ with the High Court (HC) if the situation does not improve in response to his legal notice.

He sent the legal notice to the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Law.

Orders from CA, Cabinet Division 'ignored'

The legal notice says that a letter was issued from the Chief Adviser’s Office on 5 January to carry out publicity for the referendum across the country.

In light of the letter, the Cabinet Division issued two letters to concerned authorities on 7 January urging them to take necessary measures to hang two big banners each in front of all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions for conducting extensive publicity and campaign for the referendum.

The legal notice states that despite the instructions of the CA Office and the Cabinet Division, the banners have not been hung in front of all schools, colleges, madrasas, universities, police stations, hospitals, union parishads, upazila parishads, district parishads, NGOs, as well as private, government, semi-government and autonomous institutions.

Some field-level officials and employees are seen expressing reluctance to conduct extensive publicity and campaigning for the referendum, the legal notice alleged. Even the leaders and workers of “some political parties” have taken a stand against the referendum, the notice added.

BP/SP