The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court (HC) order that asked authorities concerned to dispose of the application filed by 26 employees, who were reportedly forced to resign from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), for reinstating them in their service within three months.
At the same time, the court has fixed November 7 in 2022 for the detail hearing on the issue in the regular bench of the Appellate Division.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, passed the order on Tuesday last after hearing a petition filed by the state seeking stay on the HC order.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the state, while Barrister BM Elias Kochi appeared for the FBCCI officials.
Earlier on August 28 this year, the High Court issued a ruling asking authorities concerned to explain in four weeks as to why the Director General of the Trade Organizations (Additional Secretary), Ministry of Commerce, should not be directed to dispose of the application filed by 26 employees of the FBCCI for reinstating them in their service within three months.
Pending hearing of the rule, the Director General of the Trade Organizations (Additional Secretary), Ministry of Commerce, was directed to dispose of the application filed by 26 employees the FBCCI for reinstating them in their service within three months.
A HC bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by the 26 employees.
The aggrieved FBCCI employees filed written applications on August 21, 2022 seeking settlement of the issues.
However, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Organizations’ DG and FBCCI President did not heed their plea. No action was taken to reinstate them and pay their dues.
According to the application, the 26 former FBBCI employees sent a legal notice to the FBCCI demanding reinstatement and arrears. On 10 February this year, a legal notice was sent to the Commerce Ministry, FBCCI, and Trade organizations’ officials.
On 20 October in 2020, 62 officers and employees resigned from FBCCI together. They claimed that they were forced to resign under the pressure of the then Board of Directors.
According to the employees, the FBCCI President forced 62 officials to resign on the same day due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of them were paid only 20 per cent of their salary and allowances, and many were not paid any service benefits except money from the provident fund.
Among 62 sacked officials, some took employment at other offices and some of them intend to seek legal help along with the 26.
bikashju@gmail.com