HC summons expatriates' welfare secretary

The High Court on Tuesday summoned Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain over a contempt of court charge for not complying with its previous order.

In response to a writ petition, a High Court bench comprising of Justice Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Ashraful Kamal ordered Khondaker Showkat Hossain also asked the official to appear before the court at 10:30am on June 3.

Advocate Salahuddhin Dolan argued for the petitioner during the hearing while Advocate MK Mahmud stood for the secretary.

Some 77 officials and employee temporarily recruited under a project to set up Women’s Technical Training Centers in Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal divisions filed a writ petition with the High Court in 2010.

Later the High Court on April 7, 2011, directed the government to make the jobs of the employees permanent under the government's revenue sector.

Later, the defendant filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
The Appellate Division on August 1, 2013, upheld the HC order and asked the authorities to make the jobs permanent as per the qualifications of the employees.
But, the ministry concerned did not comply with the court order. Later 11 people filed the contempt of court petition against the concerned secretary.

After a hearing, the High Court on March 4 this year issued a contempt of court rule against the secretary.

Since the High Court order was not implemented, the petitioners filed an appeal with the court seeking the physical appearance of the secretary before the court.

Later the High Court on Tuesday summoned the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment secretary.