All nominations of Khaleda cancelled

All the three nominations filed by BNP chief Khaleda Zia for contesting in the parliamentary election from Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 constituencies have been cancelled due to her conviction in two corruption cases.

In Feni-1, Returning Officer Md Wahiduzzaman rejected the nomination papers of Khaleda and three others in the constituency at 11:30am today, reports our Feni correspondent.

The three others were BNP nominee Nur Mohammad and independent candidates Abul Basher Chowdhury and Mizanur Rahman.

In Bogura-6, Returning Officer Foyez Ahmed rejected the nomination papers of Khaleda but accepted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s one.

In Bogura-7 as well Khaleda Zia’s nomination papers was rejected for the same reason.

The ROs are scrutinising 3,065 nominations, including the three of Khaleda, today.

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Zia Orphanage Graft Case: Khaleda's jail term raised to 10 years

If the ROs reject her nominations during the scrutiny of nomination papers, the BNP will launch a legal battle for Khaleda's participation in the election, party insiders said yesterday.

WHY IS KHALEDA IN JAIL?

On October 29, Khaleda was convicted and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

Khaleda landed in jail being sentenced to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case by the same court on February 8. The High Court later extended her jail terms in the case to 10 years.

WHAT WAS THE HC OBSERVATION?

A High Court bench last week made an observation that an accused sentenced to more than two years in jail cannot contest an election even if an appeal against the sentence remains pending. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court did not interfere in the observation.

WHAT IS THE ELECTION SCHEDULE?

As per the revised polls schedule, the 11th parliamentary election will be held on December 30.

The Election Commission had fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date of withdrawal.