A Dhaka court on Thursday imposed a travel ban on former chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, nine former election commissioners and two secretaries of the Election Commission for allegedly conducting a sham election and committing treason.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhajur Rahman issued the order following a petition by the investigation officer of a case filed by the BNP with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
Other individuals banned from leaving the country are former election commissioners Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Md. Shah Newaz, Md. Zabed Ali, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Kobita Khanam, Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, Md. Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir, and Md. Anisur Rahman and former Election Commission secretaries Helaluddin Ahmed and Mohammad Sadik.
Syed Sajedur Rahman, the investigation officer and inspector of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), submitted the petition seeking the travel ban.
The petition stated that all 12 accused are currently absconding, and it is necessary to prevent them from going abroad for the sake of proper investigation.
Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon, the public prosecutor of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court, confirmed the information.
On June 22 this year, the BNP filed the case accusing them of failing to uphold their constitutional duties, and instead, intimidating the public and completing elections without their votes.
Charges of treason, fraud, and breach of trust were brought against them in the case.
Other persons accused in the case are former CEC KM Nurul Huda (2018 election), former CEC Kazi Habibul Awal and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Inspectors General of Police
Hasan Mahmud Khandkar, AKM Shahidul Hoque, Javed Patwary, Benazir Ahmed, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Meanwhile, former CECs Kazi Habibul Awal and Nurul Huda have been arrested for the massive irregularities in the national elections.
Nurul Hudu gave a confessional statement in the court on July 1.