Shawdesh desk:

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday stayed a government decision that revoked freedom fighter status of 119 members of Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB), clearing their way to get benefits as freedom fighters.

According to the HC order, the stay order will remain in force till reopening of the court after the ongoing closure.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan came up with the order following two separate writ petitions filed by the 119 BGB personnel challenging the government decision.

Lawyer of writ petitioners Barrister Abdul Qaium informed journalist that the HC stayed the government order revoking the freedom fighter status of his clients as the government has taken the decision without giving them any scope for defending themselves.

They had been included in the gazette notification of the list of freedom fighters after scrutinising their relevant documents and papers, the lawyer added.

On June 8, the Liberation War affairs ministry issued a gazette notification revoking freedom fighter status of 1,134 BGB personnel, including the 119 writ petitioners, on charge of obtaining the status by placing forged documents.