85 upazila election officers sacked by 2007 caretaker govt to be reinstated

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of reinstating 85 upazila election officers who were sacked by the caretaker government in 2007.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed pronounced the judgment today (25 February), allowing separate pleas and a review petition filed by the appellants.

The apex court also ordered to give all the due benefits as per law to the families of the three election officials among the 85, who have died already. 

Senior advocate Salah Uddin Dolon moved the pleas for the appellants, while senior lawyers Prabir Niyogi and Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal argued for the review petition. Advocate Md Khalekuzzaman Bhuiyan took part in the hearing for the Election Commission and Additional Attorney General Aneek Rushd Haque stood for the st ate.

On behalf of the 85 officials, their lawyer Salah Uddin Dolon told reporters that the order reinstates 82 officers in their jobs after 18 years with seniority and all benefits.

As for the three who have already passed away, their families will receive all the benefits, he added.

The PSC selected 327 upazila election officers on 3 September 2005. Following the controversy, 85 officers were dismissed during the caretaker government in 2007 after a re-evaluation.

The dismissed officers filed a case but the administrative tribunal initially rejected it on 23 March 2009. Later, the Administrative Appellate Tribunal ruled in their favour in 2010, ordering reinstatement.

The Appellate Division's chamber court stayed that ruling, which the state then challenged in an appeal in 2011.

On 1 September 2022, the Appellate Division overturned the Administrative Appellate Tribunal's decision, effectively blocking the officers' reinstatement.

The officers then filed a review petition in 2023, which the Appellate Division heard and set 25 February for the verdict.