DHAKA, Dec 24: The opposition Awami League petitioned the government on Monday to reinstate the special law officers to deal the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, as well as the cases relating to the killing of four AL leaders in prison 27 years ago.

The lawyers, who were appointed by the government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to take special care of the cases in 1996, were relieved of their duties by the government on Dec 15.

An Awami League leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Advocate Abdul Hamid, in a letter addressed to the law minister, said on Monday that elderly lawyer late Sirajul Huq, Syed Rezaur Rahman, Shahara Khatun, Anisul Huq and Nurul Islam had been appointed special public prosecutors as per the law.

“But the Law Ministry recently issued orders relieving them of their duties of conducting the cases after death of Sirajul Huq. Such action is unlawful, unacceptable and ill-motivated.”