The High Court has declared the Ministry of Commerce's decision to appoint an administrator for the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (Haab), the organization of Hajj agency owners, as illegal.
Simultaneously, the court has reinstated the previous committee of Haab and directed them to continue their responsibilities.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikder Md Mahmudur Razi delivered this verdict, declaring the rule issued in response to the related writ as valid.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the previous committee in court, while Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal appeared for the opposing side.
On October 15, the Ministry of Commerce issued an office order appointing an administrator to Haab, following an application by the owners of anti-discriminatory Hajj agencies and several agency proprietors.
In the order, the ministry invoked Section 17 of the Trade Organization Act, 2022, to dissolve Haab’s existing executive committee and appointed Joint Secretary Mohammad Daudul Islam as the administrator.
The administrator was instructed to organize a fair and impartial election within 120 days and hand over responsibilities to the elected committee, informing the ministry thereafter.
In response, Haab organized a press conference on October 16, protesting the appointment of the administrator by the Ministry of Commerce. Subsequently, Haab filed a writ with the High Court, which led to the suspension of the administrator appointment order.
The anti-discriminatory Hajj agency owners appealed this suspension. Following their appeal, the Appellate Division suspended the High Court's order and directed the resolution of the rule. Consequently, after hearing the rule, the High Court delivered its verdict on the matter.
