Writ Petitions Challenging Past Elections’ Legitimacy Filed in Bangladesh
On Monday, Hasnat Abdullah and Sargis Alam, coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, filed two significant writ petitions with the high court. These legal actions address the legitimacy of the last three parliamentary elections and the political activities associated with the Awami League. The petitions are pivotal in the ongoing discourse surrounding electoral integrity and political accountability.
The Writ Petitions on Past Three Elections
The first petition explicitly seeks to declare the most recent three parliamentary elections illegal. Hasnat Abdullah and Sargis Alam are calling for the illegally obtained benefits from these elections to be returned. This assertion forms the crux of a larger conversation about electoral fairness and citizens’ rights regarding their government’s actions.
Political Activities of Awami League Under Scrutiny
The second writ petition focuses on the case’s implications for political activities. The coordinators argue that the Awami League should not engage in political actions until the court issues a ruling on their petitions. They emphasized that their writ does not explicitly call for a ban on political party registration, highlighting a specific legal approach to ensuring accountability without imposing excessive restrictions on political processes.
Legal expert Advocate Ahsanul Karim elaborated on the implications of these petitions, stating that the aim is to prevent the party from continuing its political activities amid the ongoing legal scrutiny. Abdullah and Alam confirmed that the high court’s consideration of this case is expected to take place before a bench led by Justice Mahmudur Razi.
The outcome of these writ petitions may not only influence the future of the Awami League but also set a precedent for how electoral processes are perceived and regulated in the country.
