Staff Reporter :The High Court (HC) on Monday dismissed the writ petition of BNP leader Abdul Awal Mintoo regarding the eligibility of his nomination as a Mayor candidate for the forthcoming Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) polls. The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo disposed of the petition after hearing arguments from the petitioner and the State.Mintoo, an Adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, moved the writ with the HC on April 5, challenging the cancellation of his nomination by the Election Commission (EC). Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud appeared for Mintoo, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued for the State. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who assisted Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud in the hearing, said they might file appeal against the HC’s decision with the higher court after consulting the matter with Mintoo. Earlier, Retuning Officer of DNCC rejected Mintoo’s nomination on April 1 as the person who seconded his nomination was not a voter of the DNCC area, from where Mintoo wanted to contest the polls. Mintoo filed appeal with the Divisional Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka against the Retuning Officer’s decision, but Zillur Rahman, the DC of Dhaka, also upheld the decision of cancellation after hearing on April 4. Later, Barrister Khokon claimed that they were deprived of justice. The proponent of Mintoo was the resident of DNCC area but his name was not included in the voter list because of a faulty voter list, prepared by the EC.
