A Dhaka court today (August 7) rejected the bail petition of former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a case filed over alleged manipulation of national elections.

Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of the 12th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court passed the order after Huda’s lawyer moved the petition.

Earlier on July 2, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah had also denied bail. Huda had given a confessional statement before Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman on July 1, after being placed on a four-day remand.

The case, filed on June 22 by BNP national executive committee member Salah Uddin Khan, accuses 24 individuals—including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three former chief election commissioners—of rigging the national elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024.

Others named in the case include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, four former inspectors general of police, former heads of the Special Branch (SB), National Security Intelligence (NSI), and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), along with several former election commissioners.

Following the case filing, police detained Nurul Huda from his residence in Uttara Sector 5 amid a crowd gathering near his home. He was later shown arrested in the case and placed on remand.

The case is being investigated amid growing public scrutiny over electoral integrity and alleged institutional misuse during previous national polls.

MN/