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The High Court has dismissed a rule questioning the legality of the promotion proceedings at Sonali Bank.
The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice K M Zahid Sarwar delivered the verdict on Sunday after hearing the rule.
The dismissal of the rule by the High Court means now there is no bar for the authorities of the stated-owned bank to continue its promotion proceedings.
Following a writ petition filed by 79 officials of the bank, a High Court bench on April 18 this year issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain why the Promotion Policy 2022 should not be declared illegal as it is giving priority to seniority over merit and quality.
However, the HC bench did not issue any stay on the effectiveness of the promotion policy, and hence the authorities started their promotion proceedings recently.
The writ petitioners then filed a supplementary petition seeking a stay on the promotion proceedings, and upon hearing the petition on Oct 15 this year, the HC rejected it.
The same day, they moved the Chamber Judge’s court, which, upon hearing their petition, issued a status quo on the promotion proceedings until December 11.
The Appellate Division on November 27 upheld the Chamber Judge’s order that on October 15 this year issued a status quo on the promotion proceedings.
The apex court at the same time directed the High Court bench led by Justice Md Khasruzzaman to hear and dispose of the rule issued in the regard within December 10.
The Board of Directors of Sonali Bank approved the Promotion Policy 2022 on February 28 this year.
According to the policy, if the number of candidates eligible for promotion from officer to Deputy General Manager (DGM) exceeds three times the number of vacant posts, a maximum of three candidates will be considered for an interview for each vacancy, based on the prepared seniority list.
For instance, only the top 300 officers in seniority will be called for interviews for 100 vacant posts.
The policy also states that beyond this limit, candidates will not be called for promotion, regardless of their qualifications.