The Appellate Division has stayed the High Court's verdict declaring 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan.
On Tuesday (December 10), the High Court bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the order.
Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state in the hearing before the court.
Earlier, the state filed an appeal seeking a stay on the High Court's verdict that declared "Joy Bangla" as the national slogan. Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R. Haque revealed this on December 2.
On March 10, 2020, the High Court bench consisting of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader ruled to declare 'Joy Bangla' as the national slogan. On the day of the verdict, the petitioner's lawyer Dr Bashir Ahmed, represented the case, while the state was represented by the then Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmood Bashar.
The court delivered the verdict in Bangla. While pronouncing the judgment, the court observed that 'Joy Bangla' is a slogan of national unity. It further noted that 'Joy Bangla' was the favorite slogan of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and is included in the Constitution in connection with the historic March 7 speech.
The verdict stated that 'Joy Bangla' should be the national slogan of Bangladesh, and steps should be taken to use it during national days, official events, and educational institutions. The writ petition was filed in 2017 by a Supreme Court lawyer.
