DHAKA: Ruling-party leader Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir lost his parliament membership as the Election Commission Wednesday formally declared Chandpur-1 seat vacant for electoral anomalies and called a fresh vote.

The Election Commission announced its decision to hold by-lection in the constituency in an action following the Supreme Court order upholding High Court verdict declaring void the nomination of the former bureaucrat-turned politician.

Sources said the by-election could be held on December 22.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said, “The commission has declared the constituency vacant and decision has been taken to issue a gazette. It was sent to BG press for issuing the gazette.”

The CEC adds: “The election would be held within 90 days after issuing gazette. We would inform the Speaker of the House after getting the gazette.”

He said it would take a day or two for issuing the gazette.

The Election Commission had cancelled Alamgir’s nomination for the December 29 general election on ground of his conviction during a massive anti-graft drive following the military-backed 1/11, 2007 changeover. He had challenged the EC decision through a writ petition.

On 15 December in 2008, a High Court bench summarily rejected Mohiuddin’s writ petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision.

However, on December 18, 2008, the Appellate Division’s vacation chamber judge stayed the High Court’s order and asked the Election Commission to accept Mohiuddin’s candidature.

And he stood for the race and won the polls. He also became chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts.    

But the apex court eventually decided his fate after over one and a half years. The full court of the appellate division of the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s verdict on July 15 this year and thereby left his parliament membership virtually invalid.

The Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka on July 26, 2007 had sentenced Alamgir to 13 years in jail under emergency law.

However, on July 4 this year, the High Court exonerated the former minister from the corruption charge.

BDST: 1802 HRS. SEPT 21, 2010