BSMMU teachers body polls stayed for 6 months

The High Court today stayed for six months the result of elections of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Teachers Association.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and BSMMU to explain in six weeks why the result of the election should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Abu Taher Mohammad Saifur Rahman came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by BSMMU Professor Mohammad Faruk Hossain challenging the legality of the election result.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub told The Daily Star that the registrar of the BSMMU on July 6 issued a notice staying the process for holding election to its teachers association as two of the three members of the university’s election commission have resigned.

On July 8, the pro-vice chancellor of the university sent a letter to professor Kanak Kanti Barua, acting president of BSMMU Teachers Association, requesting him to submit the relevant papers of the election to him (pro-vice chancellor) in three days.

On July 13, the chief election commissioner, Professor Mohammad Atiqur Rahman issued a notice declaring the result of the unopposed election to the teachers association.

In the notice, Professor Mohammad Julfiqar Rahman Khan has been declared president and Professor Mohammad Zillur Rahman Bhuiyan has been declared its general secretary of the 10-member committee.

Faruk Hossain recently filed the writ petition challenging the legality of the election result, the lawyer said.