Around 80 defeated candidates of the Jatiya Oikko Front have lodged a case at the appeal tribunal making allegations of vote rigging during 11th national parliamentary elections. Though two and a half months have passed, lawyers have not progressed with the appeal hearing.
Lawyers say that since oath taking of elected eight candidates has been settled, efforts will be taken within the next few days for appeal hearing.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal are entrusted with the cases. Since most cases are from Oikko Front ally, BNP, a team from the party will also work.
The main complaints in the cases are: after the declaration of the schedule many candidates could not carry out their pre-election campaigns properly and candidates failed to get effective remedial measures from law enforcers and election officials.”
The cases also state that BNP candidates were attacked by AL goons and activists.
Jatiya Oikkya Front steering committee member, advocate Subrata Chowdhury, says: “Despite the development in the political arena, we have to move forward with the rest; after discussing with BNP, we will start the hearing of the cases.”
BNP lawyer A K M Ehsanur Rahman, says: “we lodged an appeal; we will raise the writs for hearing and, following decision from all sides, will proceed for the hearings.”
BNP high command has already formed a team of lawyers to look after these cases. The team features: barrister Aminul Huq, advocate Jainul Abedin, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Mir Nasir Uddin, Fazlur Rahman and barrister Rajib Pradhan.
While lodging cases, Gono Forum general secretary said: “We lodged cases with evidence of vote rigging; hopefully, the hearings will begin soon.”