HC to hear challenge to Maya's ministership today

The High Court is set to hear today a writ petition challenging the legality of ruling Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya's holding onto the office of the relief and disaster management minister and his parliamentary membership.

Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal set the date after the petitioner, Eunus Ali Akond, prayed to it for hearing the petition.

Eunus, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition on July 7, saying Maya could not hold onto the two posts because he was convicted in a corruption case.

He cited Article 66 (2) (D) of the constitution that says, "A person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of Parliament who -- has been, on conviction for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release”.

Maya was sentenced to 13 years in jail and fined Tk 5 crore by a trial court in February 2008 for amassing wealth illegally.

Later in response to his petition, the HC acquitted him of the corruption charges in October 2010.

However, the SC scrapped the acquittal order on June 14 this year and sent Maya's appeal for re-hearing. The HC is yet to set a date for the re-hearing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission sued Maya in 2007.