Kader Siddique loses appeal at EC to stay in Tangail-4 election race

The Election Commission has dismissed Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) chief Kader Siddique’s appeal against the cancellation of his nomination for the Tangail-4 by-polls.

Siddique and his wife Nasrin Siddique’s nominations were cancelled for defaulting on repayment of loans.

His lawyer says they will challenge the decision in court.

The couple had moved the EC against the returning officer’s decision to cancel their nominations.

However, the petitions were thrown out after a hearing at the EC in their presence on Sunday.

Kader Siddique claimed he was not a defaulter and that his nomination cancellation was the result of the returning officer’s ‘incompetence’.

The EC’s legal wing Deputy Secretary Mohsinul Haq confirmed bdnews24.com of the development.

“The returning officer’s decision has been upheld,” he said.

Tangail-4 constituency fell vacant after Siddique’s elder brother former minister Abdul Latif Siddique resigned last month.

Decorated freedom fighter Kader Siddique and nine others filed nominations for contesting the polls.

But nominations of four persons were cancelled.

After the scrutiny, nominations of Awami League candidate Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hajari, two other KSJL candidates Iqbal Hossain Siddique and Hasmat Ali, NPP’s Imrul Kayes, Jatiya Party’s Sadek Khan and BNF’s Ataur Rahman Khan were found valid.

The by-polls will be held on Nov 10 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is Oct 21. Campaign will start after allocation of symbols to the candidates on Oct 22.