The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon the Home Secretary and others to show cause within two weeks why Hilly shall not be directed to return the passport of former President HM Ershad. reports UNB.

Ershad's passport was impounded on November 3 night at Zia International Airport while he was going to China.

The court further asked the respondents to show cause why the seizure of the passport shall not be declared mala fideTwith-out lawful authority and violative of Ershad's fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution as a citizen.

Ershad's counsel prayed for return of the passport for allowing him to go to Saudi Arabia for his routine treatment but the court asked for filing of supplementary affidavit along with relevant papers in support of the treatment abroad.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice M Fa-zlul Karim and Justice M Abdul Wahab Mia issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Ershad challenging seizure of his passport.

His counsel. Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, moved the writ petition

The seizure of passport, he said, was an illegal act done with a mala fide intention to infringe Ershad's fundamental right as a citizen though he was a former President and a sitting MP.