HC orders to reopen Lakehead school in 24-hr

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the Lakehead Grammar School authorities to reopen the school in 24 hours that was closed down on Tuesday on charges of harbouring militancy and inspiring extremism.

The HC also directed the school authorities to assist investigators in probe if allegation of militancy and extremism is raised against the institution in the future.

The High Court bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the order.

On November 9, proprietor of the school Khaled Hassan Matin and guardians of 12 students, filed three petitions challenging the legality of the decision to shut down the branches of the school.

On November 7, the district administration of Dhaka sealed both the Dhanmondi and Gulshan branches of Lakehead Grammar School, shutting all its activities on allegations of patronising militancy, inspiring extremist views and helping form militant outfits.

The school was co-founded in 2000 by Rizwan Haroon, who has been dubbed as a top militant in some media reports, and Jenifer Ahmed, wife of alleged Hizb ut-Tahrir coordinator and Dhaka University teacher Syed Golam Mowla.