Khaleda Zia, Haji Selim can’t contest next election: ACC lawyer

Khurshid Alam Khan, a lawyer of the Anti-Corruption Commission, today said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League MP Haji Selim are ineligible to participate in the upcoming 12th parliamentary election as per a decision by the High Court.

Khurshid said the HC verdict, published yesterday, mentioned that no convict can participate in the election until the sentence is overturned by the appropriate court.

"In line with this verdict, Khaleda Zia, Haji Selim and any person sentenced to more than two years in jail, whose appeal is pending, will not be able to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election," he told reporters on the Supreme Court premises today.

On Sunday, the HC said no convicted persons pending their appeals or on bail will be able to participate in the election unless the sentence is overturned by the High Court or five years have passed since the sentence has been served.

"This court did not suspend their sentences, they got bail. According to Article 66 (2) (d) of the Constitution, appellants are not allowed to participate in elections," said the verdict.

Earlier, on November 27, 2018, the HC ruled that no person can participate in the election while the appeal is pending if he is sentenced to more than two years in jail by any trial court.