The High Court yesterday ruled that “Joy Bangla” slogan must be used at the beginning and end of all state programmes, including Victory Day and Independence Day.

The court directed the government to ensure that this slogan is used, Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar told The Daily Star.

During hearing of a writ petition, the HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader also expressed dissatisfaction at “Bangladesh Zindabad” slogan being used, saying that such slogan had been used in Pakistan, he said.

Bashar added that the bench fixed January 14 for further hearing on the petition.

On December 4, the HC observed that “Joy Bangla” was the only slogan at home and abroad during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

Even some poets, litterateurs, and intellectuals of the then West Pakistan had chanted the slogan and they were arrested and sent to jail in 1971.

The bench said when the Pakistan occupation force opened fire on freedom fighters during the war, they embraced death chanting the slogan.

Bashar supported the petition and told the court that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had finished his historic March 7 speech with “Joy Bangla”, which is now a part of the constitution.

Following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Bashir Ahmed, another HC bench on December 4, 2017, issued the rule asking the government to explain as to why “Joy Bangla” should not be declared the national slogan.

In the petition, the lawyer mentioned that “Joy Bangla” was the slogan of freedom fighters and people of Bangladesh during the Liberation War.

“Joy Bangla was the slogan of our independence and the national unity, and therefore it should remain as the national slogan -- a symbol of national spirit and patriotism,” he said in the petition.

Bashir represented himself at the hearing on December 4 this year.