Arrest follows BNP’s case accusing Awami League-era election irregularities; fellow ex-CEC Nurul Huda previously detained

A Detective Branch (DB) team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) apprehended former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal from the Moghbazar area of Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon, police officials confirmed.

Deputy Police Commissioner (Administration and Intelligence – South) Mohammad Nasirul Islam announced the arrest, stating that the operation took place around midday in the Moghbazar locality.

The arrest comes in connection with a case filed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on June 22, accusing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three former Chief Election Commissioners, including Habibul Awal, of election rigging and irregularities during national elections held under the Awami League government. The case, lodged at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station (case number 11), names a total of 24 accused individuals, with Habibul Awal among them.

Earlier, former CEC Nurul Huda, also an accused in the same case, was arrested on June 22 from Uttara, Dhaka. Following his court appearance, he was remanded by the court for further investigation.

The BNP’s case alleges systemic manipulation and fraud during the last three national elections overseen by the Awami League-led administration, holding the top election officials accountable for alleged misconduct.

With these arrests, law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to investigate the allegations, signaling a potentially significant development in Bangladesh’s political and electoral landscape.