Writ seeks directives to bar JaPa, NDF candidates from polls

A writ petition has been filed seeking directives to bar candidates of the Jatiya Party (GM Quader) and the National Democratic Front (NDF), led by Anwar Hossain Manju, as well as Anisul Islam Mahmud, a leader of a faction of the Jatiya Party, from participating in the 13th national parliamentary elections.

The writ was filed on Sunday (January 4) with the relevant branch of the High Court by Abdullah Al Mahmud, a resident of Bhola who participated in the July uprising.

The petitioner is represented by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister ASM Shahriar Kabir. He said the respondents named in the writ include the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Election Commissioner, and the Secretary of the Election Commission.

In the 13th parliamentary elections, the GM Quader–led Jatiya Party has announced candidates in 243 constituencies. The final list of candidates was announced on December 26 at the Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan by Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary.

Meanwhile, the newly formed political alliance National Democratic Front—launched under the leadership of a faction of the Jatiya Party led by Anisul Islam Mahmud, along with the Jatiya Party (JP)—has announced 131 candidates for 119 constituencies.

Earlier, on December 23, the names of the candidates were announced at a press conference held at the ballroom of Hotel Sheraton in Banani by Jatiya Party Executive Chairman Mujibul Haque Chunnu.

Explaining the reasons for filing the writ petition, petitioner’s lawyer Shahriar Kabir said the Awami League–led 14-party alliance, known as the Grand Alliance, has been accused of involvement in crimes including human rights violations, according to a United Nations report.

The alliance includes 14 parties, including the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD–Inu), Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jatiya Party (Manju), and the Tariqat Federation. According to the UN report, these parties were also involved in such crimes. Therefore, under Article 66(2)(e) of the Constitution, they would be disqualified from contesting elections, he argued.

Earlier, on May 12 last year, the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated, associate, and fraternal organisations until the completion of trial proceedings against their leaders and activists at the International Crimes Tribunal. The gazette notification has been cited in the writ petition.