Dhaka, Aug 08 (V7N) – A Dhaka court has barred 12 individuals, including former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed, from leaving the country in connection with a case filed by the BNP. The order was issued Thursday by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhazur Rahman after the investigation officer reported that the accused were absconding.

Others under the travel ban include former Election Commissioners Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Brigadier General (retd) Jabed Ali, Shah Newaz, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam, Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir, Anisur Rahman, and former EC Secretaries Helaluddin Ahmed and Mohammad Sadiq.

According to court documents, the ban was sought to ensure a fair investigation. Immigration authorities have been instructed to prevent the accused from leaving the country.

The BNP lodged the case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on June 22, accusing several past election commissions of failing to uphold constitutional duties and conducting elections under intimidation, thereby denying citizens their voting rights.

The case lists three former CECs—Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed, AKM Nurul Huda, and Kazi Habibul Awal—as well as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Former IGPs Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, AKM Shahidul Haque, Javed Patwary, Benazir Ahmed, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun are also among the accused.

AKM Nurul Huda was arrested in Uttara on June 22 and placed on two consecutive four-day remands. Kazi Habibul Awal was detained in Moghbazar on June 25 and later remanded for three days.

END/RH/AJ