DHAKA – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today upheld a High Court order that barred persons convicted and sentenced for more than two years by a lower court, from taking part in the election.

The Appellate Division full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed ‘no order’ upholding yesterday’s order of the High Court.

The High Court division bench comprising Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice K. M. Hafizul Alam passed the order while rejecting appeals filed by five BNP leaders convicted in different cases.

The High Court in its observation said if a person is sentenced for more than two years by a lower court, he or she would not be able to take part in polls while an appeal against the conviction is pending.

“All the pleaders were convicted and have not been acquitted of their sentences. Five-year time has also not passed since their conviction. At this moment, if the court allows them to take part in general election by staying their conviction, it will go against Article 66 of the constitution. The court then scrapped their pleas,” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said after the order of the High Court.

After yesterday’s order, BNP leader Dr AZM Zahid Hossain filed an appeal against it with the Appellate Division, and the apex court, after holding hearing on the matter, passed the order this morning.