Staff-Correspondent: The High Court directed the BTRC to remove Al Jazeera's report titled "All the Prime Minister's Men" from all online platforms.Al-Jazeera television network aired "All the Prime Minister's Men on February 9.

On Wednesday (February 17) afternoon, The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Islam Mollah passed the order. At the same time the bench also disposed a writ petition that sought a ban on the broadcast of Al Jazeera report.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared for the state in the court. Barrister Reza-e Rakib was in favor of BTRC. Barrister Enamul Kabir Emon was in favor of the writ petition.

On February 15, five of the six Amici Curiae in court voted against the closure of Al Jazeera. The five are senior lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali, Fida M Kamal, Kamal Ul Alam, Prabir Niyogi and Shahdin Malik. The five amici curiae also opined that the writ was not admissible. An Amicus Curiae is in favor of shutting down Al Jazeera in the country. He is former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru.

Senior lawyer Kamal-ul-Alam, who was appointed as Amicus Curiae, said there was no reason for the writ petitioner to be offended. The writ is not admissible. However, he said that if the head of a democratically elected state is disputed, then the state itself is disputed. He added that an hour-long report was broadcast. The name of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being mentioned. But he also commented that they could not show any connection with her.

Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali told the court that Al Jazeera's broadcasting in the country should not be stopped. He also opined that the writ was not admissible in this regard.

On February 8, a writ petition was filed in the High Court to stop Al Jazeera. The petitioner asked for the removal of the 'All the Prime Minister's Man' report, which was circulated by the media, on all online platforms, including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Enamul Kabir Emon filed the writ petition. In the writ petition, the Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications, Secretary of Information and Technology, Chairman of BTRC, Inspector General of Police and others have been made defendants.

An investigative report on Bangladesh was aired on Al Jazeera on February 1, which caused a huge reaction. The report alleges that high-ranking officials were involved in corruption. Officially this report has been strongly protested. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Army also strongly condemned and protested the report.

Sun News