DHAKA: Bangladesh, in the last moment, withdrew its candidacy from judges’ election of International Criminal Court (ICC).

Though Bangladesh decided to participate in the polls for the first time, the nominated judge backtracked from joining it.

Sources concerned said Bangladesh nominated former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque as its candidate for the first time participation in the election.

But, at the last moment, the incumbent chairman of the Law Commission withdrew the nomination mentioning personal reasons.

The election is scheduled to be held at the special meeting of Assembly of Parties at The Hague in the Netherlands on June 24 and 25.

Foreign Ministry source confirmed the matter to banglanews.

However, there are 123 voters in the ICC. A judge is to get two-thirds of the votes. Bangladesh received positive response as it started election campaign. The Philippines and Jordan were the contestants of Bangladesh in the position at the court.

The election is going to be held after Philippine Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago resigned last year. She was elected for 9-year term in December, 2011 but resigned after 3 years.

A senior official at law ministry said the prospect of Bangladesh was bright as this was the first time the country wanted to participate in the election.

Amongst the other two countries, the position of the Philippines was a little bit shaky as the resigned Judge Miriam Defensor Santiago is a Philippine national.

Six judges were elected in December last year in New York, and 20-round vote had to take for this.

The new judge will be elected for 6 years and there are a total of 18 judges in the ICC.

BDST: 1852 HRS, APR 11, 2015
RS/RR