The High Court today wanted to know the government's decision about the old trees at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan, a historical place related to the republic's Liberation War.

The court sought for the resolution of a meeting organised by the liberation war affairs ministry on this issue on June 24 with its Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in the chair.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman asked Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Samarendra Nath Biswas to collect the resolution from the ministry and to submit it to this court in two weeks.

The bench passed the order during hearing on a writ petition filed to seek its directive upon the government not to cut trees and damage the environment and characteristics of Suhrawardy Udyan.

It fixed July 15 for further hearing on the petition.

DAG Samarendra Nath Biswas told the HC that the government has suspended the process of cutting trees at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Liberation Minister AKM Mozammel Haque held a meeting on June 24 on this issue, but the resolution of the meeting was yet to be finalised, he said, adding that he will submit the resolution to the court once he receives it.

Lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan appeared for the writ petitioners during the virtual hearing of the petition today.

Read More: Tree-felling at Suhrawardy Udyan: HC hopes problems will be resolved through discussion

The High Court today expressed grave dissatisfaction as neither the investigation officers nor the Cyber Tribunal gave any explanation to it over the delay in concluding investigation into two cases filed against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol under the Digital Security Act.

The court sought the explanation three weeks back.

None of the investigation officers or the Cyber Tribunal has submitted any report to this court on whether the investigation officer has taken permission from the Cyber Tribunal to probe the cases 75 days after filing those, which is very "unfortunate", the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman noted.

Justice Enayetur Rahim said the investigation officers were asked to appear before the bench again with the explanation today (Tuesday).

But, the IOs did not appear, nor submitted the explanation before the court, the judge said during hearing two bail petitions filed by accused Kajol in connection with the cases.

The HC bench asked the IOs to appear before it on Thursday to give the explanation.

It also fixed Thursday for hearing the bail petitions and asked Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi to communicate to the IOs so that they appear before the court on that day.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for photojournalist Kajol during virtual hearing on the bail petitions today. 

On November 24, the same HC bench granted bail to Kajol in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

However, Kajol could not be released from jail following the verdict as he is arrested in two other cases.

The same day, the bench also asked the investigation officers of the cases lodged against Kajol with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations whether he has taken permission from the Cyber Tribunal to probe the cases after 75 days of filing the cases.

The investigation officers and the Cyber Tribunal have been ordered to submit separate reports to the HC by December 15 (Tuesday).

Two other cases under the Digital Security Act were filed against Kajol on March 10 and 11 with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations.

The Railway Ministry today (August 7, 2022) informed the High Court that a monitoring cell has been formed to stop passengers from travelling on train roof and ticket scalping.

Besides, the government has set up special fencing at 50 railway stations to prevent entry of people without tickets, the ministry said in a compliance report submitted to the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat during hearing on a suo moto (voluntary) rule on this issue.

Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik, who placed the report on behalf of the ministry, told The Daily Star that the HC bench expressed satisfaction at the railway ministry's steps to stop mismanagement in railway services.

The HC bench set August 10 for passing an order on this matter.

On July 21, the HC bench in an observation said that no passenger can be carried on the roof of any train from now on. If any train carries passengers on the roof, appropriate action will be taken against its responsible officials who will fail to stop it, the bench said.

With this observation, the bench ordered the railway authorities to inform the court on what steps have been taken to stop carrying passengers on the roof of train and ticket scalping.