High Court tells Election Commission to accept Kader Siddique’s nomination

The High Court has asked the Election Commission to accept the nomination of Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) chief Kader Siddique for the Tangail-4 by-polls.

Wednesday’s order followed hearing of a petition by Siddique, which sought to overturn the EC’s decision scrapping his nomination.

The court also issued a rule asking why cancellation of Siddique’s nomination should not be declared illegal.

The EC, chief election commissioner, Tangail’s returning officer and two others have been told to come up with an explanation.

“He can now contest the by-polls after the court’s order,” plaintiff’s counsel Ragib Rauf Chowdhury said.

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

Altogether 10 persons, including four from KSJL, filed nominations for contesting the Nov 10 by-polls.

But the returning officer scrapped four nominations, including that of Kader Siddique and his wife for defaulting a loan repayment, on Oct 13.

The Siddique couple moved the EC against the decision but their pleas were rejected after a hearing.

Siddique on Monday alleged the state-run Agrani Bank had ‘unfairly’ branded him a defaulter.