DHAKA, Dec 15, 2024 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today declared illegal the 
decision of the Ministry of Commerce of cancelling the executive committee of 
the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) and appointing an 
administrator to the organization.

A High Court division bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder 
Mahmudur Razi passed the order, declaring absolute a rule issued in this 
regard earlier.

Confirming the matter to BSS, HAAB lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir 
said after today's judgment, now there will be no legal bar for the elected 
executive committee to observe its duty.

On October 15, the commerce ministry through an office order appointed an 
administrator for the HAAB following an application by the anti-
discrimination hajj agency and owners of some agencies.

The ministry appointed its joint secretary Mohammad Daudul Islam as 
administration under section 17 of Commercial Organizations Act-2022 by 
cancelling the executive committee. The ministry also instructed the 
administrator to arrange a fair and neutral election and to hand over the 
responsibility to the elected committee.

But the HAAB executive committee filed a writ petition with the High Court 
against the commerce ministry's decision and the court after the hearing 
imposed a 'status quo' on it and issued a rule in this regard.

Later, Akhteruzzaman, on behalf of the anti-discrimination hajj agency, moved 
before the Appellate Division against the High Court's decision.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on October 31 upheld the 
appointment of an administrator to HAAB after cancelling its executive 
committee.

A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat 
Ahmed issued a rule after suspending the 'status quo' given by a High Court 
bench following a petition submitted by the executive committee of the 
organization.