DHAKA: The hearing of Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique’s appeal against a High Court (HC) verdict -- his candidacy for the by-election of Tangail-4 (Kalihati) constituency is illegal-- will begin on July 19.

Chamber judge of the appellate division of the Supre Court (SC) Justice Mirza Hussain Haider on Wednesday (June 1) fixed the date.

Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali along with Barrister Ragib Rauf Chowdhury moved for Abdul Kader Siddique in the court.

On September 3 in 2015, the election commission (EC) declared the constituency vacant as Abdul Kader Siddique’s elder brother lawmaker Latif Siddique resigned from the post on September 1.

Later, the EC fixed November 10 as the date to organize the by-election.

Kader Siddique and his wife Nasrin Siddique submitted their nomination papers as candidates from Krishak Sramik Janata League.

But, returning officer M Alimuzzaman cancelled the nomination papers of four candidates including Abdul Kader Siddique and his wife Nasrin Kader Siddique on allegation of default of loan on October 13.

Alimuzzaman said their nomination papers were cancelled as Credit Information Bureau (CIB) of the central bank informed that they (Kader and Nasrin) have a loan worth Tk10.88-crore in Agrani Bank Ltd in the name of their organisation Shonar Bangla Engineering.

Kader Siddique filed an appeal with the EC. Later on October 18, a five-member EC team led by chief election commissioner pronounced the final verdict cancelling his candidacy.

Then, he filed a writ petition with the HC challenging the EC’s order.

On February 4, the HC upheld the verdict by the EC.

Later, he filed a leave to appeal petition that the appellate division granted on March 15.

BDST: 2205 HRS, JUN 01, 2016
SR