Dhaka, July 9: In a major legal development, the Bangladesh High Court has reinstated Sharif Uddin, a former Deputy Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), ruling that his dismissal by the previous Sheikh Hasina-led government was illegal.
The verdict, issued by a High Court bench of Justice Rezaul Hasan and Justice Biswajit Debnath, came after a final hearing on Sharif’s writ petition challenging his February 2022 termination. The court ordered that Sharif be reinstated within 30 days with full seniority and all due benefits.
Sharif was dismissed without any explanation under Rule 54(2) of the ACC Employee Rules, a provision that allows removal without assigning a reason. Following his removal, several corruption allegations were reportedly levelled against him. In response, he filed a writ petition on March 13, 2022, questioning the legality of his dismissal and the constitutionality of the rule under which it was enforced.
The High Court had earlier issued a rule asking the ACC and other respondents to explain why Sharif’s dismissal should not be declared illegal. The final verdict nullified the termination and mandated his full reinstatement.
Senior lawyer Salah Uddin Dolan, representing Sharif, confirmed the court’s order and said the ACC must comply within 30 days. The ACC’s lawyer, Asif Hasan, stated that a decision on filing an appeal would follow once the verdict is officially received.
Sharif’s reinstatement comes amid controversy, as the interim government under Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which replaced Hasina’s administration in August last year, faces criticism for allegedly protecting corrupt and extremist figures. Hasina’s exit was widely viewed as a blow to Bangladesh’s democratic framework.
