Dhaka, Dec 27 (Just News): The High Court (HC) today questioned legality of the Election Commission’s decision that rejected an application for cancelling the candidacies of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami contenders for the December 30 national election.
The court also issued a rule asking the EC and government to explain in four weeks why the EC’s decision should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice ABM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the rule following a petition filed by Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and Amra Muktijoddhar Santan challenging the EC 23 December order.
The bench, however, refused to direct the EC to treat 25 Jamaat men disqualified for contesting in the general election.
The HC order means there is no legal bar for 25 Jamaat men to take part in the election.
Of them, 22 are in the race with BNP's electoral symbol "sheaf of paddy" and three as independent candidates.
Tania Amir appeared for the petitioners while Md Yasin Khan argued for the EC and barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazol stood for two of the candidates.
Yesterday, the petition was filed with the HC seeking its directive on the EC to disqualify 25 Jamaat-e-Islami candidates so that they cannot contest the 11th parliamentary elections.
The petition was filed on the ground as the HC earlier declared Jamaat’s registration with the EC illegal.
