Contempt of court: Appellate Division summons former primary education directorate DG

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today summoned the then director general of the Directorate of Primary Education Dr Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal and four other government officials for not recruiting a qualified candidate to the post of primary school teacher.

The apex court asked them to appear before it on December 14 as they did not comply with its 2017 directive over recruiting the qualified candidate.

An Appellate Division bench led by Justice Muhammad Imman Ali passed the summons order during hearing a contempt of court rule issued by the court earlier against the officials.

The apex court had issued the rule on March 2 following a contempt of court petition filed by one Beauty Begum, who stood first in the test for the position of primary school teacher in Gaibandha in 2008.

Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal is currently the secretary to the ministry of defence and other four officials are deputy directors of the Directorate of Primary Education. They are Md Ramzan Ali, Md Aminul, Md Abdus Salam and Masumul Islam, petitioner's lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain told The Daily Star.

Lawyer Altaf Hossain said the government officials recruited Nazma Sultana, who stood second in the examination for the same position in Gaibandha in 2008, instead of Beauty Begum.

In continuation of the case, the lower courts concerned and High Court and Appellate Division at different times ordered the officials to recruit Beauty to the post.

The Appellate Division on August 3, 2017 directed the officials to appoint Beauty to the post in 15 days, but they did not comply with the apex court directive which is tantamount to the contempt of court, lawyer Altaf Hossain added.