HC rejects MP Papul writ petition

The High Court on Tuesday summarily rejected a writ petition filed by Kazi Mohammad Shahid Islam, also known as Kazi Papul, challenging the legality of cancelation of his membership of the parliament (MP) following conviction in a Kuwait court for money laundering and human trafficking.

In its observation, the HC bench also said that if any court of a sovereign state of the world convicts and sentences a lawmaker of Bangladesh for two years or more in prison for moral turpitude, he/she becomes disqualified to hold the office.

Kazi Papul filed the writ petition challenging legality of decisions for announcing Lakshmipur-2 constituency vacant and the schedule for holding by-election to this constituency on June 21.

A Kuwaiti court on January 28 sentenced Kazi Papul, an independent lawmaker from Lakshmipur-2 constituency, and several others to four years in jail in a bribery case.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kamrul Hossain Mollah came up with the orders and observations after hearing on the writ petition.

Papul’s wife Nurunnahar Begum filed the writ petition challenging the validity of declaring Lakshmipur-2 constituency vacant.

Jatiya Sangsad cancelled the membership of Papul as he was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by a Kuwait court.

The parliament secretariat issued a gazette notification to that end.

After that, the seat Kazi Papul was vacated and the Election Commission set June 21 as the date of polling for the by-election in the constituency.

Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud and Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan appeared for the petition while Deputy Attorney General Nowroz Mohammad Russell Chowdhury represented the state during the hearing on the petition.