The High Court has issued a rule questioning the legality of the appointment of Md. Abdul Qayyum Zakaria as the Chairman of the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority. The court has asked why his appointment should not be declared illegal, following a writ petition challenging the decision. A High Court division bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubinul Asaf issued the rule on Tuesday after hearing the petition.

The court has given four weeks for the Food Secretary and the Chairman of the Safe Food Authority to respond to the rule. Advocate Humayun Kabir Pallob represented the petitioner during the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman appeared for the state.

On January 30 last year, Zakaria, an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, was appointed as the Chairman of the Safe Food Authority through a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The writ petition argues that Zakaria does not meet the qualifications outlined in Section 9 of the Safe Food Act, 2013. According to the Act, the Chairman must have at least 25 years of professional experience in food-related fields, along with specialized knowledge and expertise. However, the current Chairman, being an Additional Secretary, lacks the required qualifications.

Earlier, on January 23, a legal notice was sent challenging the legality of the appointment. As no response was received, the writ petition was filed in the High Court.

Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallob, representing the petitioner, stated, “The relevant law clearly states that the Chairman of the Safe Food Authority must have specialized knowledge in food safety. However, the current appointee has no such expertise. The court has issued the rule after hearing our arguments, questioning the validity of the appointment.”

The High Court’s intervention highlights concerns over the appointment process and compliance with the Safe Food Act, emphasizing the need for qualified leadership in ensuring food safety in Bangladesh.