High Court will decide on Tuesday whether Khaleda can contest polls

The High Court will decide on Tuesday whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently serving time in prison over graft, will be able to contest the Dec 30 election.

The court heard petitions on Monday challenging the Election Commission’s decision to scrap the BNP chief’s nominations for three parliamentary races.

Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir are set to announce the decision.

The BNP had selected Khaleda as its nominee for the Feni-1 and the Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 seats. BNP leaders had submitted the necessary applications on her behalf.

The returning officers then rejected her nominations on Dec 2, citing her jail sentences. Khaleda appealed the decision with the Election Commission, but her petition was rejected.

The BNP chairperson then took the matter to the High Court. Former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali represented Khaleda at the hearing. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

Kaisar Kamal, another member of Khaleda’s legal team, said: “We hope that Begum Khaleda Zia will receive justice and will be able to compete in the election according to the wishes of the people.”

European Union ‘Election Expert Mission’ lawyer Eirini-Maria Gounari attended the hearing.

She was in the back row of the court. Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed noticed her and made arrangements for her to be seated and sat with lawyers on the last bench. She was seen taking notes during the court proceedings.