The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka yesterday filed a petition before the High Court challenging the Election Commission's bar on mayors to contest parliamentary polls for three years after quitting office.

On behalf of Khoka, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal filed the petition before the High Cour bench comprising Justice Tarique Ul Islam and Justice Farah Mahbub.

In his petition, Sadeque Hossain Khoka prayed for cancellation of the EC's embargo on mayors to contest the parliamentary polls.

The petitioner referred to media reports that mayors would not be eligible to contest the polls for three years after stepping down from office.

The petition said the EC's decision affected not only Khoka, who had been elected MP thrice, but other incumbent mayors too who were aspiring to contest the polls.

Khoka served the nation as a minister, and he has been discharging his responsibilities as the Dhaka mayor since 2002, it added.

The petition termed the EC's embargo a violation of the existing law and it was made only to prevent incumbent mayors from participating in the forthcoming elections.

On Thursday, Khoka also sent a legal notice to the Election Commission protesting the bar.

According to the Section 12 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) anyone holding any 'office of profit' in the service of the republic or of a statutory public authority will be disqualified for running any other election until three years from the date of their resignation.

Mayors and councillors of city corporations and municipalities will be considered 'offices of profit', EC sources said.