Staff Correspondent 

 Corruption and irregularities in the recruitment of Assistant Engineers (Civil) and Upazila Engineers in  the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) have come to light, following a significant judgment by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

 The case, brought forward by Engineer Abed Ali, has revealed the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) unjust interference in the recruitment process initiated through the 2013 circular.

Due to the suspension of BCS-based engineer recruitment in 2000, the government decided in 2001 to appoint engineers through a panel. Despite subsequent job circulars issued in 2005, 2010, and 2013, recruitment was halted for years due to legal complications and alleged internal corruption within LGED and PSC.

Engineer Abed Ali filed a writ petition (No. 4528/2015) challenging these irregularities. On January 29, 2017, a High Court bench  by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md. Salim directed LGED to absorb the petitioners into the vacant posts as per the 2013 circular. The government later appealed the decision, but the Appellate Division upheld the High Court's verdict.

The Supreme Court ordered that after absorbing the eligible petitioners, remaining vacancies can be filled under the 2013 notification. The judgment highlighted the injustice faced by qualified candidates who were deprived of jobs for years due to collusion and corruption within PSC and LGED.

A key excerpt from the verdict reads:
"We find substance in this rule, therefore, the rule is made absolute without any order as to costs."

The court’s decision not only validates the claims of the petitioners but also exposes how government job recruitment can be manipulated by influential networks within state institutions.

Abed Ali’s relentless legal battle has now set a precedent in administrative justice, ensuring rightful recruitment and restoring hope for hundreds of engineers.