Former chief justice Khairul Haque stresses using Bangla for High Court tasks

A former chief justice has stressed using Bangla for writing verdicts in the High Court as an honour for Language Movement martyrs.

Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque made the call after visiting the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on International Mother Language Day on Wednesday.

Haque, who currently heads Bangladesh Law Commission, said: “Bangla should be used at all levels at the High Court. It is possible if the chief justice and others are willing to do so.”

Haque started writing verdicts in Bangla in 2007 when he was a High Court judge. He continued the practice after being promoted to chief justice.

Former chief justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman also followed the trend.

Justice ARM Amirul Islam Chowdhury used to write the orders and verdicts in Bangla, according to a write-up by Justice Haque.

Different government offices often face criticism for not complying with the Bangla Language Introduction Act 1987.

All letters, records, legal notices and other legal orders must be written in Bangla by all government offices, courts and semi-government institutions, according to the act.

Correspondences to foreign organisations are out of its purview.

The High Court has time and again issued orders on the authorities to ensure vehicle number plates, signboards, foundation stones and advertisements be written in Bangla.

It has issued a rule to stop the distortion of Bangla language in programmes and advertisements aired by radio and television channels.

But the practice of using Bangla for official purposes has not been visible in the High Court till now.

A few years ago, a parliamentarian made a proposal that Bangla should be made mandatory at all levels in the court.

“We are ensuring the usage of Bangla for judicial tasks,” said Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, who reached the Shaheed Minar soon after Haque left. “We will take initiatives to expand its usage at the High Court.”

“Many of the judges still write down verdicts in Bangla. Hearings are done in Bangla,” he said brushing off the claim that there was no use of Bangla in the High Court.