The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the by-polls of Tangail-4 constituency that was scheduled to be held on March 20.
After granting a leave to appeal petition filed by Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique, who wants to be a candidate in the by-polls, the five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came up with the order.
The apex court also fixed May 3 for hearing the appeal of Kader Siddique challenging the HC verdict that upheld the Election Commission’s decision cancelling his candidature in the Tangail-4 by-polls on the basis of loan defaults.
Later, Barrister Raghib Rauf Chowdhury, one of the counsels for Kader Siddique, told reporters that the apex court may decide about the election of Tangail-4 on May 3 during the hearing of his client’s appeal.
Earlier, on February 4, the High Court rejected a writ petition filed by Kader Siddique on October 20 that challenged the legality of the Election Commission’s decision cancelling his candidature in the Tangail-4 by-polls on the basis of loan defaults.
The parliamentary seat 133 (Tangail-4) has remained vacant since September 1, when sacked Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, elder brother of Kader Siddique, quit his parliament membership.
On October 11 last year, Kader Siddique submitted his nomination to contest the by-election slated for November 10.
On October 13 last year, the EC rejected the nominations of Kader Siddique and his wife Nasrin Siddique on charges of loan default. The EC scrapped his nomination as the Credit Information Bureau of Bangladesh Bank sent a fax to the commission informing that Siddique’s firm Sonar Bangla Engineering defaulted on a Tk 10.88 crore loan from Agrani Bank.
On October 18, a five-member panel, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, also dismissed the appeals of the duo against the cancellation.
Later, Siddique filed the writ petition with the HC challenging the EC’s decision. In response, the HC on October 21 asked the EC to accept the nomination paper. It also asked the government to explain why cancellation of Siddique’s candidacy should not be declared illegal.
Following a government petition against the HC order, the Appellate Division on October 27 stayed the election till November 2. The apex court on the same day extended its stay order till the HC disposed of the rule and asked it to do so by January 31 this year. After hearing on the rule, the HC on February 4 rejected the petition.
Later, Siddique filed an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the HC order. After hearing on the appeal the apex court yesterday came up with the order. – Staff Reporter
