HC questions legality of NHRC chief’s appointment

The High Court issued a ruling on Sunday questioning the legality of Kazi Reazul Hoque's appointment as the chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The High Court bench of Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohammad Ullah issued the ruling Sunday afternoon after hearing a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Dr Md Eunus Ali Akond. The court asked Reazul to explain, within four weeks, under what authority he had been holding the office of NHRC chairman. Akond filed the writ on November 9 challenging the legitimacy of Reazul’s appointment. According to the petition, his appointment was a violation of the NHRC Commission Act 2007 which states that a person cannot be appointed or hold the chairman's office for more than two terms. “The chairman and member of the Commission shall hold office for a term of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office, provided that a person shall not be appointed for more than two terms as a chairman or members of the commission,” Eunus quoted Section 6(3) of the act in the writ. Before his current term, Reazul served as a member of the NHRC for two terms – from June 22, 2010 to June 22, 2013, and then from June 22, 2013 to June 22, 2016 – so according to Section 6(3), his appointment as the commission's chairman is illegal.