Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has reinstated a staff member who was previously dismissed for accepting a bribe although legal proceedings regarding his dismissal are still ongoing.

Md Abbas Ali, a former office assistant-cum-computer typist who had additional duties as a revenue supervisor, was sacked on 21 March 2022 after being caught receiving a bribe of Tk50,000.

However, DNCC issued an office order on 25 March 2025 to reinstate him conditionally.

According to the order, Abbas was reinstated based on a legal opinion provided by the Local Government Division (LGD).

The reinstatement is conditional on Abbas signing an undertaking to return any salary and allowances received if he ultimately loses his case in court.

Abbas challenged the dismissal order in the High Court. The court issued a stay. The matter is now pending before the full bench of the Appellate Division.

On 11 March, the LGD sent a letter directing DNCC to reinstate Abbas Ali, citing the legal opinion of its counsel, Sajed Sami Ahammad, who argued that since the court has not barred reinstatement, DNCC could proceed if it wished.

However, the move has sparked criticism within DNCC.

An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned the decision, calling it “unprecedented” and “biased”.

“There is no legal obligation for DNCC to reinstate him at this stage. If he loses the case but has already drawn months of salary, how will that money be recovered?” the official asked, adding that the process undermines the integrity of internal disciplinary mechanisms.

DNCC Chief Executive Officer Abu Sayed Md Kamruzzaman, who signed the reinstatement order, said he acted under directives from the LGD and the DNCC Administrator.

“I merely signed the file. All instructions came from the administrator,” he said.

However, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz gave a contradictory statement when contacted by Daily Sun on 20 April, claiming that he was unaware of the reinstatement’s full details at the time of approval.

“I signed it on the CEO’s recommendation. I did not know he [Abbas] had been dismissed for bribery. Abbas is a thief—I know that. Why would I reinstate him? I will review the decision immediately. He has rejoined but has not been assigned any post yet,” Azaz said.

When approached for comment, Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Jahedi said, “The matter is sensitive. I need to review the copy of the order before making any comment.”

Legal experts have also raised concerns.

Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid noted that if an institution like DNCC reinstates someone it has already challenged in court; the legal proceedings could become ineffective.