A High Court (HC) bench on Tuesday delivered a split verdict on candidacy of jailed BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in the upcoming general elections.
The HC passed the judgment after hearing three writ petitions filed by Khaleda’s lawyers.
Justice Syed Refat Ahmed said in the verdict that Khaleda will be able to contest the national polls while Justice Md. Iqbal Kabir rejected this.
Earlier on December 2, her nominations for Feni 1, Bagura 6 and 7 constituencies were rejected by returning officers. The Election Commission also upheld the decisions on December 9, prompting the BNP chief to move the High Court on December 10.
BNP chief Khaleda was jailed for five years on February 8 this year in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Her punishment was doubled by the High Court on October 30. A day before that, she was sentenced to seven-year imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.