Proshika body formed after Faruque's removal still valid

The governing body of Proshika, formed following the removal of the then chairman Qazi Faruque Ahmed, at a press conference claimed itself as the present legitimate authority of the NGO as per the judgment of the highest court.
Mahbub-ul-Karim, chief executive officer of Proshika, read out a written statement at the press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday on behalf of the governing body, the highest policymaking council of Proshika.
Faruque, the ousted chairman of Proshika, took control of the organisation's head office early Sunday, three years after he was forced out of it, thus violating a judgement of the court. Faruque continued for the third day yesterday in office without any trouble.
“We have been running the organisation legally for the last three years after the removal of Qazi Faruque by the then governing body," said Mahbub.
Prof AM Muazzam Hussein was elected chairman of the governing body at a 2011 annual general meeting, and the chief executive has been working under the full-fledged governing body, claimed Mahbub.
He said Faruque's "illegal recapture" of Proshika and "propaganda" against the present governing body and management would lead the organisation to destruction.
Replying to a query about Faruque's allegation of misappropriation of Tk 250 crore, Mahbub termed it "baseless" and clarified that they spent around Tk 37 crore on record to continue micro-credit programmes and other expenses of the organisation.
Governing body members of Proshika JK Baral, Sirajul Islam, Sirajul Haque and Abdur Rab, among others, were present at the press conference.
The governing body of Proshika removed Faruque in May 2009 on charges of massive financial and administrative irregularities, manipulating organisational strength for political gain and nepotism.
Faruque challenged the governing body decision at the courts of assistant judge and district judge but both the courts turned down his pleas.
He then moved the High Court that in a judgement ordered status quo at the organsiation saying Faruque could enter the Proshika office alone as a former chairman without any rally or procession that may spoil the peaceful atmosphere.
Though he pleaded with the Appellate Division for deletion of the word "former," the highest court in its judgement did not delete it but clarified that the trial court was independent in dealing with the case without considering Faruque's being former.