The Appellate Division upheld the High Court's verdict af-finning that the suspension of the governing body of Gano Sa-hajja Sangstha (GSS) was legally done" by the government. reports UNB.

The government in mid-1999 suspended the governing body of the NGO for alleged misappropriation of foreign fund, shifting of GSS fund in a private account and sexual harassment on female employees by the GSS Executive Director. The suspension order followed an inquiry by NGO Bureau.

An Appellate Division bench comprising Justice Bimalendu Bikash Roy Chowdhury. Mah-mudul Amin Chowdhury and Kazi Ebadul Huq upheld the suspension order by dismissing a leave petition. The leave peti-lion was filed against the High Court's judgement.

The High Court gave the Judgement on November II. 1999. affirming the suspension order after hearing on a writ petition filed by suspended chairman and executive director ol GSS Justice (retd) K N Sobhan and F R Mahmood Hasan Challenging the order.

The Director General of Social Services on June 15. 1999 Suspended (he GSS governing with an allegation of misappropriation of foreign fund, mismanagement of GSS and sexual harassment against executive director F R Mahmood Hasan along with other office bearers of the governing body

He also formed a caretaker body in place of the governing! body as per provision of the voluntary social welfare agen-

During pendency of the writ, stay was granted upon the suspension order and the governing body .headed by Its chairman Justice (retd) Sobhan and Executive Director Hasan ter mlnated 6.000 employees and workers of the NGO without paying their five months' salary.

In both the courts, the government case was contested by Attornev General Mahmudul Is lam with Deputy Attorney General Obaidur Rahman Mostafa and Barister Amirul Islam foi the terminated workers. Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed and Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmuc were for the writ and subsequent leave petition.

In the Appellate Division, the Attorney General submittei that taking advantage of the stay order of the High Court 6.000 emploj'ees and workers were sacked by the governing body in an unusual manner. The writ was liable to be discharged as motivated termination took place during the pendency of the writ, he told the court

Islam further argued that nc illegality was done in suspend ing the governing body of GSS relying upon an inquiry report of the NGO Bureau.