TDS Desk:

‎A Dhaka court on Wednesday denied the bail of former chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in a case filed over alleged irregularities and bias in conducting the 12th national election.

‎Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Nargis Islam passed the order after a heaing.

Defence lawyer Tapas Cahandra Das pleaded for Awal’s bail, which was refused by the court.

‎Earlier on 26 June, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman placed the former CEC on three-day police remand.

‎Police arrested Awal in the capital’s Moghbazar area on 25 June in a case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

‎BNP Executive Committee member Salah Uddin Khan filed the case on the charges of vote rigging, naming 24 individuals, including another former CECs Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and KM Nurul Huda, who is currently in police remand.

‎Later on 25 June, charges of sedition, fraud, and embezzlement were added to the case.

‎Kazi Habibul Awal was the chief election commissioner in 2024 when the 12th national election was held.

‎The election was alleged to be a ‘dummy election’ as no major political party took part in the election except the Awami League and its allies.