Dhaka, Mar 03 (V7N) – The Appellate Division has stayed the High Court's verdict that quashed the government's decision to issue appointment letters to 6,531 candidates who passed the third phase of recruitment for government primary school assistant teachers in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions.

On Monday (March 3), a three-member Appellate Division bench, led by Senior Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam, issued the stay order.

The Department of Primary Education, the applicant in the case, had filed an application seeking more time on the day scheduled for hearing. Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman and lawyer Muntasir Uddin Ahmed represented the appeal in the court.

On February 6, the High Court ruled to cancel the appointments of the 6,531 candidates, declaring that the process violated the merit-based system. The verdict mandated that the appointments be made again, adhering strictly to merit.

Following the ruling, candidates who were affected expressed their anger through various protests and programs, demanding justice. The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) immediately sought a stay on the High Court's judgment, leading to the appeal hearing being scheduled for March 2.

The recruitment process began on June 14, 2023, with a notification for the assistant teacher posts in government primary schools. The DPE selected 6,531 candidates, and the final results were published on October 31, 2023. Appointment letters were initially scheduled to be issued to the selected candidates on November 20. However, the High Court intervened on November 19, suspending the issuance of these letters, citing concerns over the quota system used in the appointments.

The case is still ongoing, with the Appellate Division’s stay order temporarily halting the High Court’s verdict and restoring the government’s decision to proceed with the appointments.

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