DHAKA: The Election Commission would declare the constituency of Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir vacant if there be no further instruction from the Appellate Division, said Election Commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hossain Thursday.
 
“We will start preparation for by-election to the seat after receiving the copy of the Supreme Court (SC) verdict,” he told reporters at the EC secretariat on Thursday afternoon.

Sohul Hossain said, “As per rule it is obligatory to hold the by-poll within 90 days of declaring the constituency vacant.”

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court endorsed the cancellation of ruling-party lawmaker Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir’s nomination for election and thereby left his parliament membership virtually void.

After the final verdict on the election dispute, Election Commission’s lawyer Advocate Prabir Niogi told journalists that the Azwami League leader “lost his parliament membership as the Supreme Court upheld the EC decision”.

Chandpur returning officer had cancelled MK Alamgir’s nomination on grounds that he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years` imprisonment in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information from the commission during a massive anti-graft purge following the 1/11 changeover.

Country’s many power political leaders were herded up into jail amid the military-led hunt under state of emergency.  

Later on December 15, 2008, the High Court upheld the returning officer’s decision rejecting his nomination.

But the chamber judge of the Appellate Division on December 18, 2008 stayed the HC order and asked the Election Commission to allow MK Alamgir to participate in the parliamentary polls.

After the election, MK Alamgir filed a regular leave-to-appeal petition with the SC in 2009 following the chamber court’s directive. And he finally lost the legal battle.

BDST: 1928 HRS. July 15, 2010