Craft Instructor Controversy: Supreme Court Chamber Halts Promotion Ruling
The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division has suspended a High Court verdict that directed the promotion of Craft Instructors to the position of Junior Instructor. The order was issued on Sunday by Justice Md. Rezaul Haque, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, after hearing a petition filed by the Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) challenging the earlier High Court decision.
The matter is now scheduled for a hearing before a regular bench of the Appellate Division on May 18.
Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rauf represented the state during the hearing. Advocate Mohammad Rafiul Islam appeared on behalf of the Director General, while senior advocate Zainul Abedin and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the writ petitioners.
Speaking to reporters, Advocate Rafiul Islam stated, “The Chamber Court has stayed the High Court’s verdict. As a result, Craft Instructors will not be promoted to the post of Junior Instructor. Students from polytechnic institutes have been protesting over this, but with the stay now in place, their movement no longer holds legal ground.”
In 2023, several Craft Instructors, including Md. Ashik Mia, filed a writ petition challenging clauses 27 and 28 of the 2020 Recruitment Rules for non-cadre gazetted and non-gazetted officers and employees under the Directorate of Technical Education and its affiliated institutions.
Following a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule, and after a full hearing, delivered its verdict on March 18 this year. The judgment directed authorities to either reserve or create positions for the petitioners (Craft Instructors) in higher posts. If such positions did not exist, it instructed that they be promoted to Junior Instructor roles based on qualifications.
The Director General of the Directorate of Technical Education filed a "leave to appeal" petition on April 15, seeking permission to challenge the High Court ruling.
Notably, the demand to cancel the promotion of Craft Instructors was one of six key points raised by the ongoing student protest under the banner of the “Technical Student Movement of Bangladesh.” The protesters called for the complete cancellation of the appointments of Craft Instructors recruited in 2021 and a revision of the recruitment policy. They also demanded a change in the designation of Craft Instructors and the dismissal of individuals involved in the related legal dispute.
