SC shuts doors for convicts sentenced to over 2yrs to contest polls

The Supreme Court did not respond to an appeal filed by BNP leader Dr AZM Zahid Hossain who sought a stay order on the High Court verdict that barred convicts jailed for more than two years with their appeals pending with courts cannot contest the election. 

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, issued a ‘no order’ on the petition on Wednesday. 

Following the top court's ‘no-order’, now there are no hopes for the convicts, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia who was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in two graft cases, to contest the upcoming 11th parliamentary election.

Rejected the petitions of five BNP leaders seeking stay orders on their penalties and sentences, the High Court yesterday decided that the convicts who were sentenced to over two years jail term by the trial court and the appeal remain sub judice cannot contest the election.