Dhaka, Dec 11 (Just News): The senior judge of a two-member High Court bench yesterday ruled in favour of BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia’s participation in the national election, but the junior judge disagreed with him.
Following the split verdict on Khaleda Zia’s three writ petitions, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain would now assign another HC bench for hearing and disposal of the prayers, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told reporters at his office.
The BNP chairperson had filed the petitions on December 9 challenging the Election Commission's decisions that upheld cancellation of her three nominations (Bogura-6, 7 and Feni-1) by returning officers.
Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, the senior judge of the bench, directed the EC to accept Khaleda Zia’s nominations and allow her to contest the December 30 polls.
He also issued a rule asking the EC to explain why its decision on Khaleda Zia’s nominations should not be declared illegal.
However, Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton, the junior judge of the bench, disagreed with the senior judge’s order.
Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia’s lawyer barrister Kayser Kamal yesterday expressed hope that his client would get justice from the HC bench which would be assigned for hearing and disposing of the writ petitions.
Khaleda Zia in the petitions also sought HC directives on the EC to accept her nomination papers so that she could contest the national election.
In the petitions, she also prayed to the HC to issue a rule on the EC asking why its decisions on her nominations should not be declared illegal, said Kayser on Monday.
After concluding the hearing on the petitions, the HC on Monday fixed yesterday for passing orders on them.
(Justnews/ys/2330hr)
