TANGAIL BY-POLLS
Kader Siddique cant contest: SC
STAFF REPORTER
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order that had cancelled the Krishak Shramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddiques candidature for Tangail-4 constituency by-election.
A full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha rejected an appeal filed by Kader Siddique challenging the High Court verdict that had upheld Election Commissions decision to cancel the candidature for a loan default.
There is no legal bar for the Election Commission (EC) to hold the by-polls to Tangail-4 constituency on March 20 following the apex court order. As per the apex courts order, Kader Siddique cannot take part in the by-election for Tangail-4 constituency, ECs lawyer Mohammed Yehsin Khan told The Independent.
On September 1, 2015, Awami League MP from Tangail-4 Abdul Latif Siddique resigned in the face of widespread criticism for his derogatory remarks over hajj.
Later, the EC fixed November 10, the same year, for holding the by-polls in the constituency. The returning officer on October 13 cancelled the nomination paper of Kader Siddique on the ground of a loan default.
The Krishak Sramik Janata League leader appealed with the EC against the decision, but the commission rejected his plea again.
Later, Kader filed a writ petition with the HC challenging the legality of the cancellation of his candidature.
On February 4 last year, the HC upheld the ECs decision that had cancelled Kader Siddiques candidacy and directed the EC to proceed with the by-polls. Later on February 25, he filed a leave-to-appeal with the Supreme Court against the HC order.
