Doors for convicts shut before polls
The Supreme Court did not respond to an appeal filed by BNP leader Dr AZM Zahid Hossain who sought a stay order on the High Court verdict that banned convicts with prison sentences of more than two years from parliamentary elections.
After hearing the appeal, the Appellate Division bench of seven judges, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, issued a ‘no-order’ on Wednesday, reports bdnews24.com.
That means the HC verdict remained unchanged, dimming the hopes of convicts, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, of competing in the next election.
The potential candidates with more than two years of prion terms will not qualify for the parliamentary elections anymore, according to a lawyer for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On Wednesday, the HC banned convicts with prison sentences of more than two years from parliamentary elections.
Two HC judges, Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukdar and Justice KM Hafizul Alam, cited the constitution in announcing the ruling.
The High Court has said those who were jailed for more than two years and whose appeals were still pending with courts, cannot compete in the election.
The order was passed in response to an appeal that sought a stay order on the imprisonment of five BNP leaders: Amanullah Aman, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Wadud Bhuiyan, Md Moshiur Rahman and Md Abdul Wahab.
As per the constitution, if a person is sentenced to more than two years in prison, he or she will not be able to participate in the election until the Appellate Division rejects or suspends the verdict, according to the court observation.
