Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today ordered the reinstatement of 988 employees of the National University (NU) who were previously dismissed from the service. A seven-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, senior lawyers Barrister Salauddin Dolan, Md. Asaduzzaman, and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the National University in court. Lawyer Salauddin Dolan informed reporters that the dismissal of the 988 individuals was initially executed based on a Supreme Court verdict. However, given the changed circumstances, the university authorities later conducted their own review, which was evaluated by the Supreme Court. After accepting the appeal, the court delivered its judgment today, removing any legal obstacles to the reinstatement of the dismissed employees.
Dolan also mentioned that once today’s verdict is officially received, it will be forwarded to the university syndicate, which will then decide the effective date for reinstating the employees. The court has categorized the period between dismissal and reinstatement as “extraordinary leave,” ensuring that the employees’ seniority remains unaffected.
Furthermore, Dolan noted that some of the dismissed employees have since passed away, and it is now the university’s responsibility to determine the benefits due to all affected individuals. Those who are still alive and willing to return to their jobs can do so without any legal barriers.
According to the lawyers, the legal proceedings began when former lawmaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah filed a writ petition in the High Court in 2004, seeking the cancellation of all recruitment at the National University made between November 17, 2003, and August 31, 2004. The High Court dismissed the rule issued in that writ on August 22, 2006, and no further appeal or review was filed within the stipulated time.
In 2010, despite not being a party to the original case, the then-Awami League lawmaker AKM Mozammel Haque filed a review petition. As a result, on August 23, 2011, a High Court bench delivered a verdict canceling all recruitment made during that period. Following this, on December 1, 2011, a leave-to-appeal was filed, which the Appellate Division later overturned. The Division instructed that the original rule issued in Fazle Rabbi Miah’s writ petition be reconsidered.
After a fresh hearing, the High Court issued nine directives and declared the rule valid on February 20, 2012, leading to the termination of 988 employees. Aggrieved parties filed a leave-to-appeal against this verdict in 2012, which was disposed of by the Appellate Division in 2016. Following a change in government on August 5, the university authorities decided to file a review petition, culminating in today’s Supreme Court verdict.