The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of 988 employees who were previously dismissed from National University.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday morning by a bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed.
According to the legal representatives involved in the case, National University had earlier lost in an appeal concerning the matter.
A review petition was later filed, and upon subsequent hearings, the court has now directed that the 988 dismissed individuals be reinstated.
The origin of the case dates back to August 31, 2004, when former member of parliament, Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah, filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the legality of the recruitment of these officials and employees.
Following prolonged hearings, a High Court bench dismissed the writ on August 22, 2006.
Subsequently, on December 15, 2010, Advocate AKM Mozammel Haque, former MP from Gazipur-1, filed a review petition against the verdict, which led to a judgment ordering the dismissal of the employees.
In 2011, a total of 988 officials and staff members of the National University were terminated from service based on directives from the higher court.
Following their dismissal, many of the affected employees endured severe hardship, with several reportedly dying due to a lack of medical care, while the rest continued to suffer in silence.
After the fall of the Awami League government in 2024, these dismissed individuals began to hope for justice and the possibility of regaining their positions.
The National University authorities also began to advocate on their behalf.
On August 5, 2024, shortly after the change in government, the dismissed employees formally demanded reinstatement and launched movements to press their claims.
In response, on September 9, the university syndicate convened and resolved to submit a review petition for reinstating the 988 employees who had been dismissed between 2008 and 2024, allegedly due to political vengeance during the tenure of the now-deposed Awami League administration.
The employees were initially appointed in 2003 and 2004 under various official memos following the employment regulations of National University.
However, nearly nine years later, in 2011, a group of allegedly corrupt officials and employees reportedly presented false and misleading information to the court, which ultimately led to the termination of these appointments.
The university syndicate then proceeded to dismiss the employees, a decision the dismissed individuals claim was procedurally flawed, unethical and in violation of employment regulations.
The recent judgment by the Appellate Division marks a significant development in the prolonged legal and administrative battle, offering long-awaited relief and justice to the affected employees.
