HC questions EC's decision to let 25 Jamaat men contest

The High Court yesterday directed the Election Commission (EC) to dispose of, in three working days, the application filed for cancellation of candidacies of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami men in the December 30 general election.

The court also issued a rule asking the EC and government to explain in four weeks why the EC's decision to allow the 25 candidates to contest the election despite the cancellation of their party's registration should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court also asked the EC and government to show causes why the commission should not be directed to cancel their candidacies, Deputy Attorney General Alamin Sarker told The Daily Star.

The bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali delivered the order and rule following a writ petition filed by representatives of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation and Amra Muktijoddhar Sontan, seeking cancellation of the commission's decision to allow leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami to contest the polls.

Barrister Tania Amir appeared for the writ petitioners.

The petitioners had submitted an application to the EC on Monday, to cancel candidacies of the Jamaat men.

On October 28 this year, the EC issued a gazette notification, scrapping the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The HC in a landmark verdict on August 1, 2013, had declared illegal Jamaat's registration with the EC. The commission the same year had suspended the registration.

Jamaat then filed the appeal with the apex court challenging the HC verdict, which is pending with the SC now.