The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday upheld the appointment of an administrator to Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), the apex body of the country's Hajj agencies, by the Commerce Ministry after cancellation with its executive committee before completion of its EC tenure.
As a result, Joint Secretary Mohammad Daudul Islam will continue as administrator in the HAAB until the election of the trade body is held and new executive committee takes its charge.
The four-member appellate division headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Reffat 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.
Senior lawyers Md Ruhul Quddus Kajol, Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Barrister Abdullah Al-Mamun moved before the court for the 'Anti discrimination hajj agency' while senior lawyers Joynul Abedin, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Advocate Md Shishir Monir pleaded for the HAAB.
On the other hand, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Additional Attorney Generals Md Arshadur Rouf and Anik R Huque moved for the state.
On October 1, the Commerce Ministry appointed an administrator for the HAAB scrapping its executive committee 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 Trade 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.
The HAAB executive committee filed a writ petition with the high court against the Commerce Ministry's decision and the high court after the hearing gave 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.
