The High Court on Thursday stayed the conviction of BNP election candidate Sabira Sultana in a graft case, clearing the way for her to contest the 11th national polls in Jessore 2 constituency.
The former chairman of Jhikargachha upazila parishad had challenged the conviction and six-year jail sentence handed down on July 12 for allegedly amassing illegal wealth and concealing the information, reports UNB.
A single-member High Court bench of Justice Md Rais Uddin passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the BNP aspirant on July 30 against the case, which had been filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission with Dhanmondi Police Station.
Senior Lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali and Advocate Aminul Islam stood for Sabira Sultana while Advocate Baizid Ahmed represented the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Another High Court bench had initially expressed its unwillingness to hear Sabira's appeal but later, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain assigned the single-member bench to dispose of the appeal.
“Following the High Court order, there is no legal bar on my client contesting the ensuing general election,” Aminul Islam said.
The constitution bars any person sentenced to more than two years in jail from running for election until five more years have passed after they serve the prison term.
In addition, a High Court bench in a judgment on Tuesday barred convicts with prison sentences of more than two years from parliamentary elections even if their appeals remain pending.
Tuesday’s order ruined the election hopes of jailed BNP chief Khaleda Zia, and leaders Amanullah Aman, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Wadud Bhuiyan, Md Moshiur Rahman and Md Abdul Wahab, all of whom have been sentenced to more than two years in jail.
