HC declares ministry's decision to appoint administrator to HAAB illegal

The High Court (HC) on Sunday declared illegal the decision of the Ministry of Commerce of cancelling the executive committee of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) and appointing an administrator to the organization.

A High Court division bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi passed the order, declaring absolute a rule issued in this regard earlier, BSS reports. 

Confirming the matter to BSS, HAAB lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir said after today's judgment, now there will be no legal bar for the elected executive committee to observe its duty.

On October 15, the commerce ministry through an office order appointed an administrator for the HAAB following an application by the anti-discrimination hajj agency and owners of some agencies.

The ministry appointed its joint secretary Mohammad Daudul Islam as administration under section 17 of Commercial Organizations Act-2022 by cancelling the executive committee. The ministry also instructed the administrator to arrange a fair and neutral election and to hand over the responsibility to the elected committee.

But the HAAB executive committee filed a writ petition with the High Court against the commerce ministry's decision and the court after the hearing imposed a 'status quo' on it and issued a rule in this regard.

Later, Akhteruzzaman, on behalf of the anti-discrimination hajj agency, moved before the Appellate Division against the High Court's decision.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on October 31 upheld the appointment of an administrator to HAAB after cancelling its executive committee.

A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued a rule after suspending the 'status quo' given by a High Court bench following a petition submitted by the executive committee of the organization.