Kader Siddique’s nomination cancelled, his party withdraws Tangail shutdown call

The Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) has withdrawn the Tangail shutdown it had called for Wednesday in protest against the cancellation of party chief Abdul Kader Siddique’s nomination for a by-polls.

The returning officer scrapped the nomination of Siddique, his wife and two others after scrutiny on Tuesday.

Decorated freedom fighter Siddique was vying for the seat that fell vacant after his elder brother, former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, resigned from Parliament last month.

Assistant Returning Officer Md Tajul Islam said the Siddique couple’s nominations were cancelled for defaulting on repayment of Tk 118.8 million loan from Agrani Bank.

Agitated KSJL called a dawn-to-dusk shutdown and blocked the Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway by placing burning tyres on the road for two hours following the EC’s decision.

Traffic resumed around 2pm after police drove them off the road.

KSJL Joint General Secretary Iqbal Hossain Siddique said they withdrew their shutdown at the party chief’s request.

Two others whose nominations were scrapped are Jatiya Party’s Sayed Mustaque Hossain Ratan and Independent candidate Abdul Alim.

After the scrutiny, nominations of Awami League candidate Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hazari, two other candidates of KSJL 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-election is scheduled for 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.

Kader Siddique went to Elenga bus terminal in the afternoon and told his supporters that they should not agitate over the cancellation of his nomination.

“I’d have been happier had you protested the [alleged] sexual assault of a woman in front of her child in Kalihati and the death of innocent people in police firing there,” he said.