Khaleda goes to HC challenging EC

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the election commission's decision that rejected all her three nominations for contesting the 30 December election, reports UNB.

Lawyer Nowshad Jamin, on behalf of Khaleda Zia, filed the petition with the concerned High Court bench on Saturday morning.

The bench of justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and justice Md Iqbal Kabir is likely to hear the petition on Tuesday, said lawyer Kaiser Kamal, a counsel of Khaleda Zia.

Earlier on Saturday, the election commission upheld returning officers' decisions cancelling the candidature of jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for forthcoming national election.

On the basis of majority opinions of the five election commissioners, the commission pronounced its judgment turning down Khaleda's petitions filed to it to get back her candidacy in Feni-1, Bogura-6 and 7 constituencies.

The lawyers of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday filed appeals with the election commission against rejection of her nomination papers of three constituencies.

On behalf of Khaleda Zia, lawyer Kaisar Kamal submitted the appeal for Feni-1 constituency while lawyer Nowshad Jamin for Bogura-6 and lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder for Bogura-7 constituencies at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

Earlier, the EC on Sunday (2 Dec) ditched Khaleda's all the three nomination papers filed for contesting the polls from Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 seats for her conviction in two graft case.

On 29 October, Khaleda was convicted and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

Khaleda landed in jail after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case by the same court on 8 February. The High Court later on 30 October extended her jail terms in the case to 10 years.