The High Court yesterday summoned officer-in-charge of Akhaura Police Station Mosharraf Hossain Taraf for giving a report showing an alive man, who intends to go to hajj, as dead, reports UNB.

A division bench of the HC comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan asked the OC to appear before the court on July 23 to explain the police report for which the intending hajj pilgrim was shown dead on the website of the Religious Affairs Ministry.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why showing a man dead in police report should not be declared illegal and illegitimate.

The Home Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, the Superintendent of Police of Brahmanbaria and Officer-in-charge of Akhaura Police Station were made respondents to the rule which is returnable in one week. Barrister Kaiser Zahid Bhuiyan stood for Azad Hossain.

Kaiser Zahid told reporters that Azad Hossain Bhuiyan was shown as dead on the website of Religious Affairs Ministry where names of intending Hajj goers (pre-registration process) are displayed. He was shown dead as the police reported mentioned him as a dead person.

A legal notice was sent to the OC seeking correction in the report.

As the report has not been corrected yet, Azad, the victim, filed a writ petition before the court.