Court orders reinstatement of 988 NU employees

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has directed the reinstatement of 988 employees dismissed from the National University.

The order was issued Tuesday morning by the bench led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed following a review petition hearing. The university had earlier lost the case, but the higher court overturned the decision and ordered their reinstatement.

In 2011, these officers and staff were dismissed under a High Court directive after allegations of irregularities in their appointments. Many affected employees faced severe hardship, with some dying due to lack of medical care.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, the dismissed employees, supported by the National University authorities, sought to regain their jobs. After renewed protests and demands, the university syndicate reviewed their reinstatement in September, acknowledging the political motivations behind their dismissal during the previous government’s tenure.

The employees were initially appointed in 2003 and 2004 through proper procedures. However, in 2011, misleading information led to their appointments being declared illegal, resulting in their dismissal—a move widely criticized as unjust and unethical.

Earlier legal challenges by former MPs Advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia and Advocate Akram Mozammel Haque failed to overturn the dismissals, but the recent Supreme Court ruling marks a turning point.

This verdict offers hope for the reinstatement of the affected staff after years of struggle.