SC upholds HC verdict on NDM's registration

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that directed the Election Commission (EC) to register Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Bobby Hajjaj as a political party.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order, dismissing a leave-to-appeal filed by the EC challenging the HC verdict.

The EC has to register NDM as a political party in 15 days following the apex court's order, Barrister Rashna Imam, a lawyer for Bobby Hajjaj, told The Daily Star.

Following a writ petition filed by Hajjaj, the HC on October 21 last year directed the EC to register NDM as a political party within 15 days.

Later, the EC filed a leave-to-appeal with the SC challenging the verdict.

The EC on June 11 last year rejected an application to register NDM as a political party, saying that the party's constitution was not amended with due process.

But the EC did not say anything in its letter how the constitution should be amended, Barrister Rashna added.

Barrister Akhtar Imam appeared for Bobby Hajjaj, while Advocate Obaidul Rahman Mostafa represented the EC.