HC seeks explanation over 29 ‘illegal’ appointments at BTRC during AL tenure
Despite repeated requests for explanations, BTRC failed to provide a satisfactory response to the audit authorities
The High Court issued a rule today (9 March) asking why legal action should not be taken over the illegal appointment of 29 junior consultants at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.
The court directed the BTRC chairman and other relevant government authorities to respond to the rule.
The order was passed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam after hearing a writ petition.
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Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan appeared for the petitioner.
According to the lawyer, an audit inspection report sent by the Science, Information and Technology Audit Directorate on 13 December 2020 revealed irregularities and corruption in the recruitment process through which 29 junior consultants at BTRC were later appointed to various revenue posts.
The audit report stated that the appointments were made arbitrarily without following the required recruitment rules, examinations or procedures. Despite repeated requests for explanations, BTRC failed to provide a satisfactory response to the audit authorities.
On 16 November last year, the Posts and Telecommunications Division asked the BTRC chairman to submit a response after determining responsibility for the irregular appointments, along with opinions from the relevant administrative ministry and the Ministry of Public Administration. However, the directive was not complied with, the lawyer said.
He added that during the tenure of the interim government, a task force was formed to investigate irregularities and corruption in the telecommunications sector. A white paper submitted by the task force also mentioned the alleged illegal recruitment of the 29 junior consultants to revenue posts.
Citing the findings of the white paper, the Posts and Telecommunications Division again wrote to the BTRC chairman on 14 December, requesting action against those involved in the alleged corruption. However, no steps were taken.
Instead, BTRC formed a Departmental Promotion Committee on 3 November to consider promoting officials currently serving as deputy directors — who were allegedly appointed irregularly — to the post of director. The commission subsequently held frequent meetings of the committee in an apparent attempt to expedite the promotions.
In this context, six deputy directors of BTRC — Sanjib Kumar Singha, Kazi Md Ahsanul Habib, Md Zakir Hossain Khan, SM Afzal Reza, Md Asif Wahid and Md Hasibul Kabir — served a legal notice on 5 February seeking action against those allegedly appointed illegally and demanding that individuals listed under serious financial irregularities not be promoted.
Following the notice, they filed the writ petition with the High Court.
