The High Court of Bangladesh on Tuesday issued a rule asking why the July National Charter Implementation Order and the Referendum Ordinance should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam Shahin also sought an explanation on why the oath of members of the Constitutional Reform Council should not be considered invalid. The Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary, National Consensus Commission, and Chief Election Commissioner have been directed to respond within four weeks.

Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun Mahbub represented the petitioners, while senior lawyers Mohammad Hossain Lipu, Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddiqui, and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir opposed the petitions. The rule follows separate writ petitions filed on Monday challenging the legality of the July National Charter Implementation Order, the Referendum Ordinance, and the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council members.

Earlier, on February 18, another public interest writ was filed by Advocate Yunus Ali Akand seeking cancellation of the July National Charter and suspension of its effectiveness, naming the same government officials and bodies as respondents.