Appellate Division to deliver verdict on reinstatement of 85 dismissed upazila election officers on 25 Feb
The Appellate Division has set 25 February to deliver its verdict on the reinstatement of 85 upazila election officers dismissed in 2007 during the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government.
The five-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed set the date today (20 February) after hearing petitions filed by the dismissed officers.
Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state, while senior lawyers Prabir Niyogi and Salah Uddin Dolan moved for the dismissed officers.
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Earlier on 3 September 2005, 327 upazila election officers were selected by the PSC. Following controversy, a re-evaluation during the caretaker government in 2007 resulted in the dismissal of 85 officers.
The dismissed officers filed a case but the administrative tribunal initially dismissed it on 23 March 2009. Later, the administrative appeals tribunal ruled in their favour in 2010, ordering reinstatement.
This ruling was stayed by the Appellate Division's chamber court and then challenged by the state in an appeal in 2011.
On 1 September 2022, the Appellate Division overturned the appeals tribunal's decision, effectively blocking the officers' reinstatement.
The officers then filed a review petition in 2023, which the Appellate Division heard today and set 25 February for delivering verdict on the matter.
