Dhaka: A legal notice has challenged the legality of the appointment of Kazi Reazul Hoque as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman, reported UNB.

Supreme Court lawyer SM Zulfikar Ali Junu sent copies of the notice to the Speaker, law minister, cabinet secretary, secretary to the President’s Office and the NHRC chairman on Thursday noon.

It was mentioned in the notice that as per the recommendations of a selection committee, the President appointed Kazi Reazul as the NHRC chairman under section 7 of the NHRC Act, which is contradictory to the act.

The same person cannot work with the NHRC for more than three terms which was violated in the case of Reazul as he had earlier been its member for two terms, the notice said.

Section 6(3) of the law stipulates: “The Chairman and Members of the Commission shall hold office for a term of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office; provided that a person shall not be appointed for more than two terms as a Chairman or Member of the Commission”.

So, the appointment of Reazul is illegal, the notice added.

The notice sought an explanation within 72 hours as to why the appointment of Reazul Hoque should not be declared illegal, threatening to take recourse to law if the notice goes unanswered.