Mujib's 'Joy Bangla' no longer national slogan

DHAKA: Bangladesh's supreme court has stayed a high court verdict that declared 'Joy Bangla' - popularised by Bangbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - as the country's national slogan.

Rahman's daughter Sheikh Hasina was ousted as prime minister on Aug 5 following a students' protest and an interim govt headed by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus took over on Aug 8.

Following the change of govt, the state moved on Dec 2 to suspend the high court's ruling of March 2020. The high court had ordered govt to take steps to use the slogan at state functions and academic institutions' assemblies.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order Tuesday, saying the national slogan is a matter of govt's policy decision and judiciary cannot interfere.