Dhaka lawmaker may be unseated for conviction

DHAKA - Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Thursday revoked the parliamentary membership of a ruling Awami League lawmaker who had been elected despite his conviction on corruption charges.

The apex court upheld a high court order that declared valid the returning officer’s decision to cancel the nomination papers of Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir for the 2008 parliamentary election.

The six-member full bench of the Appellate Division of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim passed the order after dismissing a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Alamgir against the high court order.

Before the parliamentary poll, the returning officer (RO) of Chandpur-1 constituency had on Dec 3, 2008 cancelled the nomination papers of Alamgir on the ground that he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment on charges of amassing wealth illegally.

Election Commission lawyer Prabir Neogi told reporters that following the apex court order, the returning officer’s decision stands valid.

The parliamentary membership of Alamgir will be cancelled and a by-election will be held.

However, Alamgir’s lawyer Rokon Uddin Mahmud told the media that the apex court order will not affect the parliamentary membership of his client, since he took part in the 2008 national elections as per the order of the chamber judge of the Appellate Division.

The chamber judge of the Appellate Division on Dec 18, 2008 had stayed the high court order and asked the Election Commission to allow Alamgir to participate in the elections.

The chamber judge also asked Alamgir to file a regular leave-to-appeal petition with the Supreme Court against the high court order.

An alliance led by the Awami League swept the parliamentary poll, winning two-thirds majority and took office in January last year.