Dhaka, March 18 -- The High Court (HC) has directed the government to take appropriate action against Kazi Anis Ahmed, a director of the Gemcon Group, so that he cannot engage foreign lobbyists or publish any materials that depict Bangladesh negatively, particularly with regard to the religious freedom of its minority groups.

The court also asked the home, finance and foreign secretaries and the Bangladesh Bank authorities to probe the allegations in this regard and submit a report within next 90 days.

The HC bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer and another one.

The HC also issued a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the...