Time Digital report: A Supreme Court lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the process for electing Md Shahabuddin as president of the country.
Advocate MA Aziz Khan submitted the petition, also praying to the HC to stay the operation of the gazette notification that declared Md Shahabuddin president-elect of the country.
Contacted, Aziz Khan said under section 9 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, Md Shahabuddin cannot be appointed president of the republic as he is a retired commissioner of ACC and the post of the president is an office of profit.
The chief election commissioner in a media briefing on February 13 said Md Shahabuddin was "elected" president of the republic, not "appointed", but this is not correct, according to the petitioner.
The meanings of "elected" and "appointed" are the same, the lawyer said, adding that had the Election Commission scrutinised the nomination paper of the presidential candidate properly, Shahabuddin would not have been elected.
He said the HC may hold a hearing of the petition next week.
Md Shahabuddin, a retired judge and former commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, was declared president-elect of Bangladesh on February 13.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told reporters at the Election Commission that Shahabuddin, the ruling party nominee, was elected unopposed.
Incumbent President Abdul Hamid's tenure will expire on April 24 and he cannot become president again as he was elected for two terms.
According to Article 123 of the constitution, the presidential election must be held 60 to 90 days before the expiry of each five-year term.
