The High Court yesterday cleared the way for the authorities concerned to hold the annual general meeting of NRB Commercial (NRBC) Bank on April 23.

The court said NRBC Bank Chairman Farasath Ali will preside over the meeting where Bangladesh Bank's observer Masud Biswas will remain present.

The HC also directed the board of NRBC Bank to allow its three directors -- Adnan Imam, SM Tamal and Rafiqul Islam Arzu --and its former director AM Tushar Iqbal Rahman to attend the meeting.

In response to a petition jointly filed by Adnan, Tamal, Rafiqul and Tushar, the court asked the authorities to include the names of Adnan, Tamal and Rafiqul in the directors' report of NRBC Bank.

The authorities have been directed to strictly follow the relevant rules of law in holding the meeting and not to take any decision at the meeting beyond its circulated agenda.

The HC asked them to hold voting in the secret ballot if it is necessary for recruiting its directors through election at the annual general meeting and to record the whole proceedings of the meeting in video.  

The vacation bench of Justice AFM Abdur Rahman came up with the order following a petition filed by Adnan, Tamal, Rafiqul and Tushar seeking necessary orders for smoothly holding the meeting and so that the petitioners can attend the function.

Petitioners' lawyer Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury told The Daily Star that his clients filed the petition under Banking Companies Act, apprehending that the meeting of NRBC Bank will not be held smoothly, as there are allegations of irregularities against its Chairman Farasath Ali and Managing Director Dewan Mujibur Rahman. The NRBC Bank authorities on April 6 issued a notice for holding its AGM on April 23 excluding the names of the writ petitioners, he said.

The lawyer said the HC passed the directives on the consents of the lawyers of the petitioners and the NRBC Bank. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General SM Moniruzzaman appeared for the bank, while Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Barrister Mehedi represented the petitioners.