Khaleda Zia can’t contest polls

The High Court today rejected three separate writ petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the Election Commission’s decision that upheld the cancellation of her nomination papers by the returning officer.

Therefore, Khaleda Zia will not be able to contest in the December 30 parliamentary election.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan passed the rejection order after hearing arguments from Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

Earlier, the same HC bench rejected Khalea’s petition expressing “no-confidence” in the bench, which has been assigned by the chief justice to dispose of three writ petitions regarding cancellation of Khaleda's nomination papers filed for contesting in the parliamentary election from Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 constituencies.

Khaleda’s lawyer AJ Md Ali today submitted the petition to the HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan also requesting to send her writ petitions to the chief justice.

Rejecting the “no-confidence petitions, the HC bench judge said that the chief justice has assigned his bench to hear and dispose of the petitions and asked Khaleda’s lawyer Md Ali to start placing argument on the writ petitions.

Md Ali requested the bench to adjourn the hearing but the bench refused the prayer and asked to her place argument. Hearing this, the lawyer left the courtroom.

Later, Attorney General MahbubeyAlam started placing argument opposing the writ petitions filed by Khaleda.

Khaleda's lawyers yesterday sought a day from the High Court bench to submit the petition. Later, the bench gave them the time until 10:30am today.

Bodruddoza Badal, a lawyer for Khaleda, told the bench that they could not complete the swearing affidavit on her (no-confidence) application yesterday.

Source: thedailystar