The High Court on Wednesday ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission to reinstate its former deputy assistant director Sharif Uddin within 30 days.
The court said that Sharif鈥檚 dismissal on February 16, 2022 was illegal and directed that he be reinstated with full seniority and all dues.
The bench of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan and Justice Biswajit Debnath issued the verdict after hearing a writ petition filed by Sharif in April 2023 while another bench issued on February 6, 2024 a rule asking the ACC to explain why his termination would not be declared illegal.
Sharif was sacked without being given a chance to defend himself, according to his writ petition.
An appeal against the legality of the ACC鈥檚 service rules had earlier been disposed of by the Appellate Division on March 16, 2023, paving the way for Sharif鈥檚 writ petition to be heard.
M Ahsan Ali, who was removed from his ACC service for misconduct in 2010, challenged the ACC service rules.
In its 47-page verdict, the Appellate Division also laid down 12 guidelines for terminating employees in government, semi-government, and autonomous bodies.
The authorities, the court warned, must ensure that no employee is victimised, especially in sensitive institutions like the ACC that deals with powerful figures.
Sharif, who joined the ACC in 2014, claimed in the writ petition that he became a target after investigating corruption cases involving influential businessmen, politicians, and bureaucrats, including senior members of the ruling Awami League.
He was transferred to Chattogram before he was dismissed. The ACC also gave no reason for his termination and denied him the right to self defence.
The dismissal sparked nationwide protests by ACC staff on February 17, 2022 鈥� the first such demonstration in the agency鈥檚 history.
Civil society groups also called for an independent investigation into the matter.
Sharif first applied for reinstatement on February 27, 2022, but received no reply.
He renewed his request on August 7, 2024, submitting an application to ACC secretary Khorshed Yasmeen, highlighting his contributions to the commission.
This appeal came just days after a dramatic shift in national politics when prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following a mass-student uprising that ended her 15-year rule.
Lawyer Salauddin Dolon represented Sharif while Asif Hassan defended the ACC.