The High Court today stayed the implementation of the Accord 2018 agreement as its tenure was extended without the approval of the government.

Accord is an association of the European garment buyers created to assist Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of the garments in Bangladesh.

In response to a writ petition, the HC also questioned the legality of the implementation of Accord 2018 agreement without the approval of the government.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the implementation of Accord 2018 agreement without any consultation and the approval of the government should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, it also asked the Accord why it should not be directed not to adopt any policy without any consultation and the approval of the government.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the order and rule after hearing a writ petition filed by Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League challenging the legality of the implementation of Accord 2018 agreement.

Petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Imtiaz Moinul Islam told The Daily Star that on June 21 this year the European garment buyers have arbitrarily extended the Accord agreement for next three years without any consultation and the approval of the government or any stake holder.

The HC’s stay order will continue till May 15 next year, he added.

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury appeared for the petitioner.