The High Court on Sunday asked the government to explain within two weeks why detained former chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal should not be granted bail in a case filed over alleged manipulation of the 2014, 2018 and 2024 national elections.

The bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Biswajit Debnath issued the rule after hearing a bail petition filed by Habibul Awal.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior lawyer Shahdeen Malik led a team of five senior lawyers include Sara Hossain and SM Shajahan.

Shahdeen argued that Habibul Awal had already spent one year and two days in jail, which, according to the defence, exceeds the maximum punishment applicable at this stage of the proceedings.

He further submitted that the more serious charges are not yet maintainable because the prosecution must first file a complaint petition with the competent magistrate’s court before those offences can proceed.

Detective Branch police arrested Habibul Awal in the capital’s Moghbazar area on June 25, 2025 and showed him arrested in the case.

BNP national executive committee member Md Salah Uddin Khan filed the case on June 22, 2025 against 24 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and three former chief election commissioners, for manipulating the national elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 during the authoritarian Awami League regime.

Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, four former inspectors general of police, several former election commissioners, and former chiefs of SB, NSI and DGFI have been accused in the case.