High Court delivers divided verdict on Khaleda’s petitions

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) has passed a divided verdict on the petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking HC directives on the Election Commission to accept the nomination papers so that she can run from Bogura-6, 7 and Feni-1 for the December 30 general election.

The bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir pronounced the verdict on Tuesday morning.

Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed said she can participate in the elections, but other Justice Md Iqbal Kabir disagreed.

According to the rule, now a single bench of Chief Justice will take a decision after hearing on the petitions.

Senior advocate AJ Mohammad Ali and Advocate Zainul Abedin, stood for Khaleda Zia while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state.

Khaleda, a former prime minister, on December 9 filed three separate writ petitions seeking HC directives on the EC to accept the nomination papers so that she can run from Bogura-6, 7 and Feni-1.

In the petitions, she also prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking the EC why its decisions on her nomination papers should not be declared illegal.

On December 8, the Election Commission rejected her all three appeals against cancellation of her nomination papers by returning officers (ROs).

Khaleda landed in jail on February 8 after a special court in Dhaka sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The HC later extended her jail term to 10 years.

On October 29, Khaleda was convicted and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by the same court in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 11, 2018/Mahadi/Mukul