The Supreme Court today directed actors Zayed Khan and Nipun Akhter to strictly follow its chamber judge's order over holding office of general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association (BFAA).

A bench of Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order while hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Zayed against Nipun.

The apex court kept the petition stand over (waiting for hearing) for four weeks, and said Zayed can file a leave to appeal petition with the court against the HC verdict by this time if he wants.

Lawyer Ahsanul Karim appeared for Zayed while lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud stood for Nipun during the hearing today.

On March 6, the SC chamber judge stayed for four weeks the HC verdict that declared cancellation of Zayed's candidacy and announcement of Nipun as general secretary of BFAA "illegal".

Justice Obaidul Hassan, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division, however, directed Zayed and Nipun to maintain status quo in respect to holding the office of GS of BFAA till further order.

The apex court chamber judge passed the order following a petition filed by Nipun challenging the HC verdict.