The High Court has summoned the managing director and secretary of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters' Welfare Trust (BFFWT) to appear before it on January 10, 2019 on charge of committing contempt of court.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal passed the summons order on Monday following a contempt of court petition filed by a Yeasir Arafat, a terminated official of the trust.

On January 10, the trust's managing director Md Iftikharul Islam Khan and secretary Sayed Mahmud Belal Haider will have to appear before the bench and explain why they did not comply with the court's previous order on them, Barrister Md Abdul Halim, the petitioner's lawyer told The Daily Star.

During its 41st meeting in May, the trust terminated Yeasir, an engineer and employee of the organisation, as his contract had ended, said Barrister Halim.

However in the same meeting, another engineer with same qualification was made a permanent employee, the lawyer added.

Yeasir filed a writ petition in July challenging the termination. On July 31, HC stayed the termination and issued a rule asking the trust to explain why its decision should not be declared illegal.

Despite the stay order, the trust stopped paying his salary since May this year, the lawyer also said.

Yeasir filed a contempt petition against the trust's managing director and secretary for defying the court's order.

On November 25, the bench issued a rule asking the trust to explain in 10 days why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them.

As they did not respond, the HC bench issued summons against the duo, the lawyer added.