The High Court has stayed effectiveness of the decision issued by the Ministry of Commerce declaring vacant the post of Md Ali Afzal, president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB).
HC bench comprising Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order on Monday following a primary hearing on a writ petition filed by Ali Afzal. Advocate Shishir Manir conducted the hearing on behalf of writ petitioner.
Earlier on 14 September, Trade Organisation-2 branch of the Ministry of Commerce sent a letter to senior vice president of REHAB, informing them of the decision to declare Ali Afzal’s presidential position vacant.
Citing a report from Credit Information Bureau (CIB) of Bangladesh Bank, the ministry mentioned in the letter that as Ali Afzal was a loan defaulter in his capacity as a director of a loan-defaulting institution, his presidential post was declared vacant pursuant to Section 23(1)(b) of the Trade Organisations Act, 2022.
Previously, on 18 April, Ali Afzal, chairman of Glorious Lands and Developments, was elected president in the REHAB election for 2026–2028 term.
Contesting from the panel of Progotishil Abashon Byabashayi Parishad, he secured 232 votes. His nearest rival, Wahiduzzaman of Abashon Byabashayi Oikya Parishad, bagged 193 votes.
