‘Khaleda, Haji Salim won’t be able to participate in polls’

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‘Khaleda, Haji Salim won’t be able to participate in polls’

NBD News Desk:

Update Time : Monday, October 23, 2023
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As per the High Court verdict, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League lawmaker Haji Salim among other convicted persons will not be able to participate in the upcoming national elections, said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam on Monday.

“The persons, who was sentenced for more than two years, will not be participated in the polls according to the last HC judgement,” lawyer Khurshid Alam said while briefing to journalists on the Supreme Court premises.

In an observation of a verdict, the High Court on Sunday said that the accused sentenced to more than two years in the corruption case, is constitutionally ineligible for the national elections. Even if the bail or sentence is stayed, he cannot participate in the polls. If his/her case is pending in the Appellate Division, it means that the convicted person is not innocent. Only if the sentence is canceled by a competent court, the convicted person will be acquitted. He/she will not be permitted to participate in the elections until the sentence is canceled.

Mentionable that, the HC in 2018, handed down a verdict rejecting a petition that sought stay on the sentence given to BNP leader Amanullah Aman and four other party leaders in separate cases. A copy of the 44-page verdict published on the Supreme Court website on Sunday (October 22).