Dhaka: The High Court on Monday issued a contempt of court rule against the Chief Election Commissioner, four commissioners and the EC secretary for declaring Oikyaboddha Nagorik Andolon invalid for polls and rejecting the nomination papers of the party’s candidates disobeying the court order, reports the UNB.

They have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Manzil Morshed stood for the petitioner.

On December 6, a legal notice was served on CEC KM Nurul Huda, MahabubTalukder, Md Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanom and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

On October 16, the HC stayed the Election Commission’s letter cancelling the registration of Oikyaboddha Nagorik Andolon.

A bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalilalso issued a rule seeking explanation as to why the decision of cancelling registration Oikyaboddha Nagorik Andolon should not be declared illegal after hearing a writ petition filed by party president Dr Kazi Faruk and general secretary Abdus Samad.

Oikyaboddha NagorikAndolon secured registration from the EC on November 16, 2008.

On October 4 this year, the EC cancelled the registration of the party.