Former CEC Kazi Habibul Awal arrested from Moghbazar
Awal was arrested in connection with a case filed by BNP
Former chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal was arrested by members of the Detective Branch (DB) from the capital's Moghbazar area today (25 June).
He was arrested at around 2pm, Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Media), confirmed the news to The Business Standard.
On Sunday night, Habibul Awal went into hiding, completely disconnecting communication by switching off his mobile phone after former CEC KM Nurul Huda had been arrested in connection with a case filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
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Based on investigations and intelligence from the Detective Branch (DB) of the police, his location was confirmed in Moghbazar. A raid was conducted there, leading to his arrest.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam stated that, as the chief election commissioner during the 2024 national parliamentary elections, Habibul Awal faces charges of failing to organise a fair and impartial election, providing misleading information regarding the election results, and violating the Constitution and electoral code of conduct.
"At the time of arrest, Awal was not at his own residence and had gone into hiding with his phone switched off. He was arrested from Moghbazar. Intelligence surveillance is ongoing to apprehend the other accused in the case."
On 22 June, BNP filed a case against the chief election commissioners and officials involved in the 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections, accusing them of inaction and misconduct during those polls.
BNP National Executive Committee member Md Salah Uddin Khan filed the case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The case lists a total of 24 individuals, including the former chief election commissioner, former home minister, police personnel, and several other high-ranking officials from the previous government.
As CEC from February 2022 to September 2024, Awal oversaw several major elections in Bangladesh, including the 12th parliamentary polls in January 2024.
The sixth Upazila Parishad elections in mid-2024 and various city corporation, mayoral, and local elections also took place under his watch.
