Man getting his job back after around 40 years!

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered the authorities concerned to give back Obaidul Alam Akan, former employee of the Department of Agricultural Extension, his job that he lost around 40 years ago.

A virtual bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order on Monday, rejecting a review petition filed by the state.

The court has also ordered to pay him salaries from the time of losing the job till his retirement and pension as well.

Prabir Niyogi moved for Obaidul Alam in the court and Additional Attorney General Sheik Md Morshed represented the state.

 Obaidul lost his job in 1982 for selling jute seeds at a slightly higher rate than the government-set price.

The then military court sentenced him to jail for two months and fined Tk1,000.

He filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) against the decision of the military court after 30 years. The petition asked for instructions about getting remunerations and other facilities from the time of losing the job till retirement.

Asked why he filed the writ petition after so many years, Akon said he went to the court, seeking its order to give his job back since all the military orders from HM Ershad's tenure were cancelled in 2012.

In 2017, the HC passed an order declaring his punishment as illegal. But the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) appealed against the order in 2018.

However, the Appellate Division upheld the HC's order.

Then the DAE appealed to the apex court for a review to reconsider its previous order.

Obaidul Alam Akan of Patuakhali Baufal upazila joined the public service in 1974. He has received multiple awards from the government in recognition of his achievements at work.