The High Court issued a rule asking why 208 expatriate July fighters who returned to Bangladesh after suffering torture abroad for their role in the July mass uprising should not each receive Tk25 lakh in compensation.
A bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice AFM Saifur Rahman issued the rule on Monday, directing the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and other concerned authorities to respond.
Lawyer HM Sanjid Siddiqui, who represented the petitioner during the hearing, told journalists that among the 208 individuals, 57 are workers who were sentenced in the United Arab Emirates for their role in the July mass uprising.
The government has recognised all 208, including these 57, as July fighters, he said.
The rule seeks to determine why the government should not provide Tk25 lakh in compensation to each of the 208 returning expatriate workers who suffered persecution abroad due to their involvement in the uprising.
The court has asked the authorities concerned to submit their response to the rule.
