The High Court has issued a rule asking why directives should not be given to formulate a reasonable punishment for offences related to hurting religious sentiments.
The court asked the secretary of the Law Ministry and other officials concrned to respond within four weeks.
The rule was issued on Tuesday by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Asif Hasan after a preliminary hearing of a related writ petition. Advocate Md Golam Kibria appeared for the writ petitioner.
On 30 November, a petition was filed with the High Court seeking directions to introduce the death penalty as the maximum punishment for offences involving hurting religious sentiments.
Supreme Court lawyer Adv Md Golam Kibria filed the petititon in the public interest.
Speaking about the petition, Kibria said the Bangladesh Penal Code currently prescribed a maximum punishment of two years’ imprisonment for such offences, and the new Cyber Security Act also retains a two-year maximum sentence.
“We believe this punishment is inadequate. As a result, individuals like Baul singer Abul Sarkar dare to make derogatory remarks about Almighty Allah and our Prophet (PBUH),” he said.
He added that the petition soght directions to enact a law prescribing the highest level of punishment for hurting religious sentiments. “If the maximum punishment is ensured, no one will dare commit such an offence,” he said.
