High Court Division · Special Original Jurisdiction
Dr. Munshi Shahjahan and others v Government of Bangladesh and others
Writ Petition 21031/2025 · Rule discharged · Decided 13 September 2026
The petitioners, inhabitants of Dahakula village in Kushtia with accounts at the Dahakula Branch of Sonali Bank PLC, challenged the respondents' inaction in cancelling a Bangladesh Bank letter dated 31.08.2025 approving the shifting of the branch, which had operated there for 46 years, to Bhadalia Bazar, about 6.5 kilometres away. They argued that the move served a bank official's personal interest and would prejudice some eight thousand account holders. The bank's Managing Director and Deputy General Manager replied that the shifting was a policy decision of the Board of Directors not open to judicial review and that the petitioners lacked locus standi. The High Court Division held that the petitioners had suffered no substantial injury, since other banks had branches in the locality and they could move their accounts. A banking company may maintain its branches at its convenience, and the Court cannot interfere with such a policy or administrative decision under article 102. The Rule was discharged.
- Whether account holders of a bank branch are aggrieved persons with locus standi to challenge the shifting of the branch under article 102.
- Whether the High Court Division can interfere with a bank's policy or administrative decision to relocate a branch.
- To maintain a writ petition in the form of certiorari, the petitioners must show they are aggrieved persons who have suffered a legal grievance affecting their legal right or title.
- Account holders of a bank branch suffer no substantial injury from the shifting of the branch where other banks operate in the same locality and they are free to move their accounts.
- A banking company has the right to maintain its branches at its convenience.
- Under article 102 of the Constitution the Court cannot interfere with the bank's policy or administrative decision to relocate a branch.
Moreover, the Sonali Bank PLC is a company having engaged in the business of banking and the bank authority has the right to maintain their branch at their convenience.
