85 EC officials reinstated
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Stripped of their jobs on charges of partisan recruitment to the Election Commission (EC) three years ago, 85 people were reinstated Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
An appeal tribunal on April 12 this year gave the verdict in their favour.
Following the court order, the Commission issued a circular on May 13 and ordered them to join their posts within office hours on May 17. All of them reported to their posts.
The Commission's deputy secretary Md Shahjahan Mia signed the circular.
It mentioned that these officials would have been deemed to be working in their posts from September 6, 2007 until May 16, 2010.
They will also get all the arrears for that period.
The circular stated that in accordance with the verdict of the administrative appeal tribunal case and decision of the 294th meeting of Commission on May 11, the Commission cancelled the circular of September 3, 2007 ending the probation of 85 Upazila election officers.
They were recruited during the tenure of BNP-led government in 2005.
There were reports that these appointments were made under political consideration. A total of 303 people were appointed to the post.
After assuming power in mid-January of 2007, the military-backed interim administration decided to retake tests on their efficiency.
On May 18, 2007, all but one of these officials took the tests.
As many as 218 people passed the hurdle while the rest failed.
Muhammad Shahinul Islam, an election officer posted to Shatkania Upazila in Chittagong, currently posted at Keraniganj, told the news agency: "According to the order of the Election Commission I reported to the senior assistant secretary Ferdous Raushan Ara at the commission secretariat Monday morning."
Ashraf Ali, another election officer, said that most of them had done the same and reported to the Commission after joining.
An appeal tribunal on April 12 this year gave the verdict in their favour.
Following the court order, the Commission issued a circular on May 13 and ordered them to join their posts within office hours on May 17. All of them reported to their posts.
The Commission's deputy secretary Md Shahjahan Mia signed the circular.
It mentioned that these officials would have been deemed to be working in their posts from September 6, 2007 until May 16, 2010.
They will also get all the arrears for that period.
The circular stated that in accordance with the verdict of the administrative appeal tribunal case and decision of the 294th meeting of Commission on May 11, the Commission cancelled the circular of September 3, 2007 ending the probation of 85 Upazila election officers.
They were recruited during the tenure of BNP-led government in 2005.
There were reports that these appointments were made under political consideration. A total of 303 people were appointed to the post.
After assuming power in mid-January of 2007, the military-backed interim administration decided to retake tests on their efficiency.
On May 18, 2007, all but one of these officials took the tests.
As many as 218 people passed the hurdle while the rest failed.
Muhammad Shahinul Islam, an election officer posted to Shatkania Upazila in Chittagong, currently posted at Keraniganj, told the news agency: "According to the order of the Election Commission I reported to the senior assistant secretary Ferdous Raushan Ara at the commission secretariat Monday morning."
Ashraf Ali, another election officer, said that most of them had done the same and reported to the Commission after joining.