The High Court yesterday directed that Proshika will be run as usual by its present governing body.
The HC bench of Justice Md Abdus Salam gave the status quo directive disposing of a civil revision petition filed by Qazi Faruque Ahmed, the ousted chairman of Proshika.
The bench ruled that Faruque can enter the Proshika office as its former chairman, but he cannot take any decision for this office and cannot hold any meeting or procession on the office premises.
It said Faruque can enter the NGO's office alone, not as a group, and he cannot cause any indiscipline on its premises.
On May 24, the present governing body of Proshika replaced Qazi Faruque with advocate Abdul Wadud as the organisation's chairman in the face of employees' agitation against Faruque for corruption and nepotism.
Faruque along with his hired men launched attacks on Proshika employees at several places in the capital on August 1, leaving at least 20 injured, in a bid to enter the NGO office at Mirpur-10.
After being removed, Faruque filed a case with the first assistant judge's court on May 27, challenging the governing body's decision but the court rejected the petition on May 31. Faruque then filed an appeal with the district judge's court on June 1, which was also rejected on June 6. He finally filed a civil revision case with the High Court.
After holding a long hearing on the revision petition, the HC bench yesterday delivered the verdict.
In its verdict, the HC bench also asked Faruque and Proshika authorities to take steps to dispose of the case regarding the authority of the organisation pending with the lower court within four months.
Central coordinator of Proshika, Shyamal Dey expressed satisfaction with the HC verdict.
He told The Daily Star that Qazi Faruque was removed from the organisation on charge of his unbridled corruption and nepotism.
Advocate Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed and advocate Anisul Huq assisted by barrister Maniruzzam appeared for Proshika, while barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud assisted by barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan argued for Faruque.
Meanwhile, 13 of the 20 general members of the Proshika executive committee, whose names Faruque used to prove himself to be still the NGO's chairman, yesterday denied having any affiliation with him.
In a statement, they said Faruque used their names unlawfully in a vain effort to prove that he was made the chairman of the NGO at a so-called annual general meeting on June 6.
They alleged that the documents Faruque submitted to the court in the revision petition case are baseless and fabricated. They also accused Faruque of forging their signatures to mislead the court.
The signatories of the statement--Bhabatosh Roy, Jaban Ali, Hanif Mal, Shamsul Alam, Bela Bhakta, Goutam Biswas, Abul Kalam Azad, Hamida Begum, Jabeda Begum, Kohinur Begum, Afzal Hossain, Manjura Khatun and Musabbia--denounced Faruque for his misdeeds.
One of the country's largest NGOs, Proshika has 220 offices across the country and more than 5,000 employees.