The Appellate Division on Monday stayed the High Court order on the General Secretary post of Bangladesh Film Artistes Association and upheld the decision of the Chamber court for maintaining status-quo over holding the post.
A six-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order and directed the High Court to settle the issue.
Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud and Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan appeared for actress Nipun Akter in the court while Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Advocate Ahsanul Karim and Advocate Nahid Sultana Juthi for actor Zayed Khan.
On February 9, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said neither actor Zayed Khan nor his rival actress Nipun Akter can hold the office of the general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association until a full-bench hearing on the controversy is held.
Responding to an appeal by Nipun Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order.
On February 8, actress Nipun Akter moved the Supreme Court against the High Court’s stay on the cancellation of actor Zayed Khan's candidacy in the election over vote-buying allegations.
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On February 7, a division bench of High Court justices Mamnoon Rahman and Khandaker Diliruzzaman stayed the decision of the Election Appellate Board revoking the candidacy of Zayed.
The order was passed following a writ petition filed by Zayed challenging the validity of the decision of the Board.
Besides, the High Court had asked Zayed to continue with his activities as the general secretary, according to advocate Ahsanul Karim.
The High Court had also issued a rule, asking the authorities concerned to explain by February 15 why the decision to cancel the actor's candidacy should not be declared illegal.
On February 5, the Election Appellate Board decided to remove Zayed from the post of general secretary of the association over allegations that he had resorted to impropriety in the recent election.
Sohanur Rahman Sohan, chairman of the Board, announced the decision on Saturday evening. A day later, the newly elected committee of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association led by Ilias Kanchan and Nipun Akter took the oath of office.
The association election was held on January 28.
Zayed was declared the winner for the general secretary post, after he defeated Nipun in a close contest. It was his third consecutive win.
UNB
