The Supreme Court Chamber Judge of Bangladesh has suspended a High Court order that had halted the recruitment examination for head and assistant head teachers under the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). As a result, the examination, scheduled for April 18, can now proceed. The Chamber Court order was issued on April 16 by Justice Md Rezaul Haque.

Earlier the same day, a High Court bench comprising Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice A F M Saiful Karim had ordered a two-month suspension of the exam and the NTRCA’s revised circular issued on March 25. The High Court also asked the education secretary and NTRCA to explain within four weeks why the revised circular should not be declared illegal.

The dispute arose after NTRCA increased the required teaching experience for applicants from 10–15 years to 18 years, disqualifying many who had already applied under the original January 29 circular. A total of 114 applicants filed the petition challenging the revised circular’s legality.