Dhaka, Oct 19 (IANS) Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has unseated a ruling Awami League lawmaker who had contested last December’s parliamentary poll before the five-year time bar stipulated following his retirement from the army.
The apex court upheld a high court verdict and directed the Election Commission to hold a by-election - from Bhola-3 constituency from where Major (Retd) Jasim Uddin’s election was held - as invalid.

Jasim Uddin is the first lawmaker in the current parliament to be unseated.

The officer was on compulsory retirement from the army from August 2004. He won the election, which was challenged by his rival, Major (Retd) Hafizauddin Ahmed of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The court was told that the nomination for the December poll had been filed on Dec 10 last year, while the time bar ended Dec 29.

As per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), if anybody is sent to compulsory retirement, he cannot contest parliamentary elections within five years of his retirement.

Officials at the Parliament Secretariat said on receiving the copy of the verdict they will publish a gazette vacating Jasim’s membership in parliament. The Election Commission will have to hold the by-election within 90 days of publication of the gazette, the Daily Star said Monday.