New High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan to hear Khaleda’s pleas to run in election

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has formed a bench with a High Court judge to hear the appeals of Khaleda Zia against the rejection of her candidacy by the Election Commission.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 Dec 2018, 04:39 PM
Updated : 12 Dec 2018, 04:39 PM

Justice JBM Hassan will hear the BNP chief’s pleas, the High Court’s Special Officer Md Saifur Rahman told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.   

Earlier in the day, the chief justice sent Khaleda’s election case back to a High Court panel for further clarification after two judges issued a split verdict on her nominations.

Kayser Kamal, one of the lawyers for Khaleda, said they hoped they would get justice in the new bench.

Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir had earlier heard petitions challenging the EC’s decision to scrap the BNP chief’s nominations for three parliamentary seats.

The views of the two judges were not laid down clearly in the case file, which prompted the chief justice to send the file back to the original bench for clarification, Supreme Court officials said.

The High Court judges were divided over whether Khaleda, who is currently serving time in prison over graft, would be able to contest in the Dec 30 election.

On Tuesday, the bench issued the ‘split’ order. Justice Refaat Ahmed issued a rule with a directive to the EC to accept Khaleda’s nominations. The judge also asked why the decision of rejecting Khaleda’s nominations shall not be declared illegal.

Justice Kabir, on the other hand, expressed his disagreement, blocking Khaleda from contesting in the election.

The matter then went to the chief justice for a final decision.

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

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

The BNP chairperson then took the matter to the High Court.