Ref: Nearly 1100 employees of the National University are going to lose their jobs as the High Court on Monday declared illegal their appointments made during BNP-led coalition government’s tenure.
Appointed between Nov 17, 2003 and Aug 31, 2004, the staff, however, will be able to apply if any circular on new appointment is issued, the two-judge bench said in the verdict.
The condition of the age of service may be relaxed for them, the bench of justices Hasan Foez Siddique and Jahangir Hossain said.
They will have to take part in written test and viva to prove their competence, the court added in the ruling.
As per the verdict, the organisational structure of the National University will have to be rearranged legally before publishing circular in at least five national dailies for fresh appointment.
National University lawyer Zafar Ahmed said the authorities had appointed around 1,100 employees during that period.
Lawyers Rafiq Ul Huq and Rokanuddin Mahmud argued the case for the NU employees while deputy attornmey general Biswajit Roy represented the state at the hearing.
Awami League MP Fazle Rabbi Mia, also a lawyer, challenged the legality of the appointments in 2004. A High Court bench in 2006 dismissed his plea.
Gazipur MP A K M Mozameel Haque on Dec 15, 2010 filed a review petition and the High Court on Aug 23 last year ordered the university to sack the staff.
The Appellate Division on Dec 4 last year overturned the High Court’s two earlier verdicts and ordered a fresh hearing after the fired employees filed three appeals.
Monday’s verdict was issued following the Appellate Division order.
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