The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the suspension of Mohammad Jahangir Alam from the post of mayor in Gazipur City Corporation should not be declared illegal. The HC bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Akhtaruzzaman issued the rule after hearing a writ petition challenging the decision of suspension. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has been asked to respond to the rule within the next two weeks. On August 14, a writ petition was filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the suspension of Jahangir . After a hearing on August 17, the bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Akhtaruzzaman fixed the date. Read: Complainant tortured at police station: Manikganj OC withdrawn In September last year, videos of Jahangir making some derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu and some martyred freedom fighters at a programme went viral on social media. On November 19, the Awami League expelled him from his position for his derogatory remarks. On November 25, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives suspended GCC Mayor Jahangir, six days after his expulsion from Awami League. Earlier, seven cases were filed against the suspended mayor in different parts of the country for his derogatory remarks about Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the great Liberation War.  

Helena Jahangir, an expelled Awami League member and businessperson, filed a petition before the High Court on Monday seeking bail in a case over Digital Security Act. The petition was submitted before the bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Md Badruzzaman, Helena’s lawyer Syed Fazle Elahi said. The bench may hear the petition on Tuesday, said public prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin. READ: Helena Jahangir seeks bail from HC in DSA case On July 30, Rapid Action Battalion-1 (Rab) filed the case against Helena at Gulshan police station for spreading invectives and abusive comments against ministers and government high-ups using digital platforms. On September 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge KM Imrul Kayes rejected Helena’s bail plea in this case. On the night of July 29, Rab arrested Helena from her Gulshan residence, four days after she was removed as member of AL sub-committee on women affairs. The elite forc "seized foreign liquor, illegal walkie-talkie sets, casino equipment and deer skins" during the four-hour raid on her home. Later another raid was conducted at Joyjatra IPTV station in Mirpur and it was sealed after recovering illegal equipment. READ: Helena gives confessional statement in narcotics case Later the court placed Helena on a 17-day remand in four cases. She secured bail in one case from court on August 17 and in two other cases on September 21.