Hearing on petition seeking directives not to shoot students deferred

The High Court will not hear the writ petition seeking the release of six quota protest coordinators from DB custody and to prevent law enforcement agencies from shooting at demonstrators on Thursday, as a judge of the bench is on leave.

The judge was sick and on leave on Wednesday as well.

The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon was scheduled to hear the writ and pass an order on Wednesday, according to court sources.

On Monday, Supreme Court lawyers Ainun Nahar Siddiqa and Manzur Al Matin filed the petition, naming the cabinet secretary, home ministry secretary, inspector general of police, and other concerned parties as respondents.

On Tuesday, during the hearing of the writ petition, Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon expressed their dismay over the violence and fatalities associated with the quota reform protests.

"All deaths are tragic. We are ashamed of the violence and loss of life surrounding the quota reform movement," the bench remarked.

The court also noted, “Everything is written in the Constitution and the law, but none of us is following the Constitution or the law. The CRPC clearly states how the police should behave. We will not do anything that harms the nation.”