An apex court of Bangladesh has on Tuesday, ruled out an order for those who are in jail for more than two year are “disqualified” to participate in elections, leading to failure of Bangladesh former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from participating in the upcoming election and polls going to be held in December 30.
Attorney general Mahbubey Alam said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia is not allowed to participate in the upcoming December election.
Alam said, “She is disqualified from taking part in the upcoming elections,” after the apex court issued an order against the people who are jailed for more than two months.
The two-bench Justices Mohammad Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Hafizul Alam has passed the order.
The High Court’s order comes ahead of the BPN decision to contest the polls with a new alliance with eminent jurist Kamal Hussaid-led National Unity Front (NUF) party, after BPN has boycotted the 2014 election under Awami League (AL) government-led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
It also said Zia has to wait for more five years to take part in the polls and elections, even after her release from the jail on November 28. The court said, “She will have to wait for five more years after her acquittal to take part in the elections.”
General said, “If the court allows them to take part in the next general election by staying their conviction, it will go against Article 66 of the Constitution … so the court scrapped their pleas.”