Rejoinder and response
Mohammad Maruful Alam Chowdhury sent a rejoinder to a report titled ‘Robi’s Former Acting HR Chief Files Case After Dismissal Over Misconduct Allegations’, published in The New Nation on 02 June 2026.
In his rejoinder, Mr Chowdhury disputed the allegations referenced in the report and argued that they had not been substantiated. He further contended that the complaint and subsequent investigation were not conducted in accordance with applicable laws, company policies, and procedural requirements.
Robi initiated an invalid complaint beyond the legally permissible timeline and conducted its investigation in violation of the applicable statutory time limits. Though the original complaint from the complainant was against 3 personals of Robi management, he being the primary one other 2 were Mr. Rajeev Sheti, former Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Robi Axiata PLC. and Mr Shahed Alam, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer of Robi Axiata PLC. yet the proceedings were carried out only involving him. Furthermore, Robi misrepresented the law and, in particular, attempted to invoke Section 361(Ka) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2016 in circumstances where such reliance was not legally justified.
• Clause 1.2, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 1.3, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 3.b, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 4.3, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 4.4, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 4.7, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 4.8, under ICC rules and guidelines.
• Clause 5.3, under ICC rules and guidelines.
Furthermore, despite the existence of the company-approved POSH Policy dated 23 May 2024, Robi management unlawfully constituted an investigation committee and violated the above listed clauses as an act of retaliation. As per the applicable law and the company’s own policy framework, Robi management does not have unfettered authority to form ad hoc committees at its own discretion.
Mr Chowdhury also objected to the report’s statement that the lower court had not yet accepted the case for hearing. According to his rejoinder, the court, by an order dated 22 February 2026, directed the issuance of summons upon Robi.
Response:
The report titled ‘Robi’s Former Acting HR Chief Files Case After Dismissal Over Misconduct Allegations’ was a standard news report concerning a corporate dispute and related litigation.
The allegations referenced in the report were attributed to sources and presented as allegations rather than established facts. The New Nation sought and published Mr Chowdhury’s response in accordance with standard journalistic practice.
The report stated that the case had not yet been accepted by the lower court. Mr Chowdhury has since informed us that the court, by an order dated 22 February 2026, directed the issuance of summons upon Robi. We are publishing this rejoinder to place his position and this correction on record.
