SC to decide if Khaleda can contest polls: Minister

After BNP chief Khaleda Zia was jailed for five years, Law Minister Anisul Huq said it depends on the Supreme Court decision whether she can contest the next national election slated for December this year.

According to the constitution, a person cannot contest the national election if he or she is sentenced to two years or more imprisonment for moral turpitude, the minister said.

The law minister was expressing his reaction to the lower court judgment against Khaleda, her son Tarique and four others.

According to a Supreme Court judgment a person can not contest the election if he or she is convicted in a case until the issues are settled at the Appellate Division, the law minister said.

The issues regarding Khaleda Zia's contesting the election depends on the decision of the Supreme Court and Election Commission, he added.

Anisul said Khaleda Zia can seek bail from the High Court after getting the certified copy of the lower court judgment.

She has to file the appeal with the High Court division against the lower court in the next 60 days, the minister said.

It has been proved by the judgment that anybody, even if he or she is a politician, has to be punished if they commit corruption.