HC issues contempt rule against CEC, five others

The High Court yesterday issued a contempt of court rule against the chief election commissioner, four election commissioners and the Election Commission's (EC) secretary for not allowing Oikyaboddho Nagorik Andolon to participate in the upcoming general election.

In the rule, the court asked the respondents to explain in four weeks why legal action should not be taken against them for committing contempt of court by not allowing the party to contest the polls.

The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das came up with the rule following a contempt of court petition jointly filed by Oikyaboddho Nagorik Andolon's President Dr Kazi Faruk Ahmed and General Secretary Abdus Samad.

In 2008, following an HC directive, the EC registered Oikyaboddho Nagorik Andolon as a political party.

EC's refusal to allow Oikyaboddho Nagorik Andolon to contest in the general election is a violation of the HC order, said petitioners' lawyer Advocate Manzill Murshid.

On October 16, HC cleared the way for the party to contest the next parliamentary election and stayed the EC's earlier decision that cancelled its registration.

Advocate Ripan Barai and Advocate Sanjay Mondal assisted Advocate Manzill Murshid in moving the contempt of court petition.