HC questions EC decision to accept NDF, JP nominations

The High Court yesterday issued a rule questioning the legality of the Election Commission’s decision to accept the nomination papers of candidates from the National Democratic Front (NDF) and Jatiya Party (Ershad) for the February 12 national election.

In the rule, the court asked the EC, the government, NDF, and Jatiya Party to explain within two weeks why the EC’s decision should not be declared illegal and why it should not be directed to cancel the nomination papers of the two parties’ candidates.

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anowarul Islam issued the rule following a writ petition challenging the EC’s decision to allow NDF and Jatiya Party to contest the election.

Abdullah Al Mahmud, a July warrior, filed the petition with the High Court on January 6, also seeking a directive for the EC to cancel the nomination papers submitted by NDF -- led by Anisul Islam Mahmud and Anwar Hossain Manju -- and Jatiya Party (Ershad), represented by its general secretary Shameem Haider Patwary.

According to the petition, NDF and JP (Ershad) are associate organisations of the Awami League, whose activities were banned on May 5 last year.

Despite the ban, Anisul and some other members of JP formed a political party named Jatiya Party (Anis) and an election coalition in the name of NDF, and submitted nomination papers for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the petition stated. JP also submitted nomination papers to contest the polls.

The petition further said the AL instructed its members to contest the election as independent candidates, describing the practice as a direct threat to the July Charter and a betrayal to the martyrs of the July uprising.

Barrister ASM Shahriar Kabir appeared for the writ petitioner, while Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state during yesterday’s hearing.