BNP leader Afroza Khan fails to remove block on her candidacy

The Appellate Division has placed a ‘no-order’ on a plea by BNP leader Afroza Khan Rita, who was challenging a High Court order that stayed the Election Commission’s decision to let her participate in the election.

The ‘no-order’ was issued by a seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain on Monday.

The move blocks the way for Afroza to participate in the election as a nominee of the BNP for Manikganj-3, lawyers have said.

On Dec 2, Afroza’s nomination was scrapped by the returning officer who cited unpaid bank loans. She filed a plea against the decision and the Election Commission announced on Dec 9 that her candidacy was legitimate.

Sonali Bank then filed a writ petition with the High Court against the Election Commission’s decision. On Dec 12, the petition was heard by Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam, who ordered a stay on the Election Commission’s decision on Afroza’s candidacy.

The BNP leader had then pleaded the Appellate Division to overturn the High Court’s ruling.

Afroza was nominated by the BNP to compete in the Dec 30 election from Manikhanj-3 after the death of her father and former minister Harunur Rashid Khan Munnu. She has been heading the BNP unit in Manikganj District.