Supreme Court blocks convicted persons from elections

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday stayed a High Court order that had allowed a convicted person to contest in the upcoming national election, UNB reports.

The seven-member bench of the SC led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing two petitions filed by the state and Anti-corruption Commission.

Now, convicted people will not be able to contest in the elections, said ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan.

Earlier on Saturday, the Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court stayed the HC order and sent the petition to a regular bench.

On Thursday, the High Court stayed the conviction and sentence of BNP candidate from Jashore-2 constituency Sabira Sultana in a graft case, clearing the way for her to participate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Later, the state and ACC filed the petitions challenging the order on Saturday.

On July 12 last, the Special Judge Court-7 awarded six-year imprisonment to Sabira Sultana, former chairman of Jhikargachha Upazila Parishad, and fined her Tk 5,000 in the case filed for amassing wealth illegally.