A Dhaka court on Sunday sent former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal to jail in connection with a case filed over alleged irregularities, including sedition, during his tenure at the Election Commission.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiak passed the order after rejecting Awal’s bail petition following his three-day remand under police custody.
Awal was produced before the court by Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) officer Syed Sajedur Rahman, who is overseeing the case. Awal had been placed on remand on June 26, following his arrest by Detective Branch police in the capital’s Moghbazar area on June 25.
The case, filed by BNP with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on June 22, accuses 24 individuals – including former CECs, election commissioners, and officials – of failing to uphold constitutional responsibilities during the 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections held under the Awami League government.
Earlier, on June 22, former CEC KM Nurul Huda was also arrested from Dhaka’s Uttara area in connection with the same case.
BNP has long alleged that the 11th general election in 2018, conducted under Nurul Huda, involved widespread ballot-stuffing the night before voting day. The party also rejected the 12th general election in 2024 – held under Awal’s commission – as a “dummy election,” boycotting the polls altogether.
Legal proceedings are ongoing.