Dhaka: The High Court on Sunday relived the Election Commission from contempt of court charges following its unconditional apology over the disposal of an election complaint.

An HC bench comprising Justice M Moazzam Husain and Justice Md Badruzzaman passed the order after hearing separate affidavits submitted by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, four election commissioners and senior secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, reports news agency UNB.

On November 26, they submitted the affidavits offering apology for the unexpected mistake for not complying with its earlier order.

On April 7 last, chairman candidate M Zahidul Islam at Char Bhairabi union parishad election in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district appealed to the EC for either cancelling voting or re-voting in wards 4 and 9 bringing allegations of irregularities and vote rigging.

Zahidul filed a writ petition against six people, including the CEC, with the HC on November 6 as the commission did not dispose of his appeal.

On June 16, the HC court asked the EC to dispose of the petition within 30 days and issued a rule in this regard.

On July 18, the EC in a letter asked the petitioner go to the election tribunal within 30 days from the date of gazette publication on the elected candidates.

Later, Zahidul moved the HC challenging the legality of the EC letter.

On August 7, the HC issued a contempt of court rule against the CEC and five others, asking them to reply as to why its suggestion for going to the election tribunal before the result publication in gazette should not be declared illegal.

Following the court order, the commission replied to the rule through their representatives or lawyers by November 26. 

Rejecting their explanations, the court asked them to submit separate affidavits appearing before the court in person.