Dhaka, Dec 24 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld a High Court order that disqualified nine candidates including eight from BNP to contest in the general election slated for December 30. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed “no order” on separate appeals filed by the candidates seeking a stay on the HC order.
The eight BNP candidates are-Khandaker Abu Ashfaq for Dhaka 1, Tamij Uddin for Dhaka 20, Fazlur Rahman for Jaipurhat 1, MA Majid for Jhenaidah 2, Abu Sayeed Chand for Rajshahi 6, Faridul Kabir Talukder Shamim for Jamalpur 4, and Moslem Uddin for Brahmanbaria 4 while another is Mahmud Hasan Suman (independent) for Mymensingh 1.
Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque, counsel for the election commission, told reporters that the candidates could not contest in the polling race following the chamber judge order.
Following separate writ petitions, the HC recently stayed the Election Commission’s decision that allowed them to contest the election as their resignations from the mayoral post were not accepted by the government.
The HC also issued separate rules asking the authorities concerned to explain why the election commission decision allowing the respondents to contest in the polls should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the orders and issued the rules following separate writ petitions filed by their rival candidates on separate grounds.
A total of 18 candidates have been disqualified from contesting the polls following recent orders from the Appellate and High Court divisions. – Staff Reporter
