Former president HM Er shad finally stands qualified to contest the June 12 parliamentary election as the Appellate Division yesterday rejected AKM Mayeedul Islam's petition for leave to appeal against the order of the High Court Dtvf aion

The division bench of the HC comprising Justice AM Mahtnudur Rahman and Justice Md Fazlul Huq by an order dated May 19 summarily rejected Mayeedul s writ petition filed on the ground that Er-shad is disqualified to be elected a member of the par liament as he is a convict.

Against the order of the HC Mayeedul. former minister In Ershad government, now his rival c andidate, a BNP nominee In the Kurlgram-3 Jatiya Sangsad constituency, preferred the petition for leave to appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court which was heard on June 4.

Ershad has been found guilty and sentenced for «dtf ferent terms in several cases against which he preferred appeals These appeals are sOll [lending In the Supreme Court

Earlier the Supreme Court held that appeal Is continuance of trial and also a statutory right.