<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday cleared the way for actress Nipun Akter to serve as the general secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association (BFAA).</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A three-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui passed the order staying the High Court (HC) verdict declaring actor Zayed Khan's candidacy for the post of general secretary in the election legal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the same time, the court accepted Nipun's leave to appeal petition against the verdict of the High Court allowing her to file an appeal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Senior Advocate Ahsanul Karim and Nahid Sultana Juthi stood for Zayed while Senior Advocate Rokonuddin Mahmud and Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan for Nipun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier on March 6, Justice Obaidul Hassan, chamber judge of the Appellate Division stayed the HC order that validated Zayed as general secretary of the BFAA for four weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The chamber judge also ordered status-quo over holding the post.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On March 2, the HC cleared the way for Zayed to serve as the general secretary of the BFFA after striking down the decision of the Election Appeal Board of the association.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nipun again took the fight to the court and filed an appeal before the Appellate Division.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The association election was held on January 28.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zayed was declared the winner for the general secretary post, after he defeated Nipun in a close contest.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But Nipun launched a legal fight challenging legality of Zayed's candidacy and accusing him of vote fraud. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>