Why MP Shahid’s seat shouldn’t be declared vacant: HC

The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to explain why Laxmipur-2 independent MP Mohammad Shahid Islam should not be expelled and his seat declared vacant.

Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice AKM Zahirul Huq's bench issued the rule following a petition challenging the legality of the post of Shahid as Parliamentary member.

Speaker of the National Parliament, Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission Secretary, Secretary to the Parliament Secretariat, deputy commissioner of Laxmipur district and MP Shahid have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

Shahid is currently in Kuwait jail, according to a UNB report.

Advocate Sheikh Ausafur Rahman and Mohammad Saleh Uddin stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Jesmine Sultana Shamshad and Assistant Attorney General Samiul Alam Sarkar represented the state.

On August 13, Abul Foyej Bhuiya, a candidate (independent) of the 11thParliamentary Election filed the writ petition challenging the legality of MP Shahid's post as he has been accused of providing fake documents and submitting fake education certificates, said Ausafur.

Shahid has submitted his fake educational certificate which is a violation to the Representation of the People Order 1972.

Shahid was arrested in Kuwait in June in cases related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering. He was sent to prison there.

Then, the Public Prosecutor of Kuwait had approached the Central Bank to freeze his bank accounts. The financial balance of the company amounts to about 5.0 million Kuwait dinars, including 3.0 million dinars as company's capital.

The Attorney General of Kuwait has decided to imprison the Bangladeshi MP for 21 days in the central prison, according to Arab Times. The Public Prosecutor decided to continue the imprisonment of the remaining accused and to release the owner of a company on bail of 2,000 dinars.