HC clears by-polls for Papul’s vacant Lakshmipur-2 constituency
Voting in the constituency slated for 21 June
The High Court has rejected a writ petition seeking postponement of by-elections in the Lakshmipur-2 constituency that fell vacant following the conviction of Shahid Islam, alias Kazi Papul, in a criminal case in Kuwait.
With this, there is no legal bar to by-elections in the constituency on 21 June.
A virtual bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah issued the order on Monday after hearing the writ petition.
BNP leader Abul Khair Bhuiyan filed the writ petition on 8 June, seeking postponement of the by-elections in Lakshmipur-2 constituency.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Barrister HM Sanjid Siddiqui appeared in court for the writ petition. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin moved for the state. Barrister Nowroz M Russell Chowdhury, and assistant attorney general MMG Sarwar, assisted him.
On 6 June last year, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Kuwait arrested Shahid Islam, alias Kazi Papul, on charges of human trafficking and money laundering. Later on 28 January this year, a Kuwait court sentenced him to four years in prison.
After receiving a copy of the verdict, the Parliament Secretariat issued a gazette notification cancelling Papul's membership in parliament and vacating the seat.
