Sonali Bank calls for cancellation of BNP candidate's nomination in Rangpur city polls

State-run Sonali Bank has accused Kawsar Zaman Babla, a BNP candidate for the upcoming Rangpur city polls, as a loan defaulter and asked the Rangpur divisional commissioner to scrap the nomination.

Kawsar, a director of Ajax Jute Mills Ltd, has been accused of defaulting on repayments of a loan of Tk 420 million, says the petition submitted by the assistant general manager of the Sonali Bank Corporate Branch.

Kawsar and four other directors of the jute mill took the loan, it says.

“Sonali Bank has filed a petition against the BNP candidate that will be heard on Nov 30,” said Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed.

“Kawsar’s nomination has been verified in line with the electoral rules. Now someone can appeal against it. The mayoral candidate has to refute the allegations during the hearing.”

Returning officer and Rangpur regional election officer Subhash Chandra Sarker approved Kawsar’s nomination on Nov 26 after examining.

“Four other directors and I together took the loans for Ajax Jute Mills, and some portions have been repaid. It is not one’s liability as the loans were taken collectively. I hope the bank’s claims are to be rejected at the hearing,” Kawsar has told bdnews24.com.

In his affidavit submitted on Nov 22, Kawsar mentioned that he alone had taken a loan of Tk 80 from the Standard Bank and, under joint accounts, Tk 420 million from the Sonali Bank.