The High Court today issued a contempt of court rule against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal. The rule was issued for not registering Ganasamhati Andolon as a political party even after the court had directed to do so.

In the rule, the HC asked the CEC to explain in four weeks why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against him for not complying with its directive. The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Ganasamhati Andolon's Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki.

Petitioner's counsel Jyotirmoy Barua told the HC that following a writ petition, the HC on April 11, 2019, had directed the CEC and Election Commission to register Ganasamhati Andolon as a political party in 30 days after receiving the copy of the HC verdict.

The copy of the HC verdict was submitted to the CEC and the EC, but the commission has not registered Ganasamhati Andolon as a political party yet, which amounts to contempt of court, he added. The lawyer said CEC Kazi Habibul Awal is responsible for implementing the HC directive. Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state during hearing of the petition.