Tangail 4 by-poll, which is scheduled to be held on March 20, has been stayed by the Supreme Court.
A five-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha issued the order yon Tuesday after granting a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique.
Kader Siddique filed the petition on February 25 challenging a High Court verdict that upheld the Election Commission’s decision to cancel his candidacy in the by-poll.
The Supreme Court also fixed May 3 for the hearing of the appeal. Siddique’s lawyer Raghib Rauf Chowdhury told reporters that the court may make a decision regarding the by-poll on that day as well.
The by-polls were initially set to take place on November 10 last year, as per a notification issued by the Election Commission on September 16, when the Tangail 4 constituency fell vacant following the resignation of that constituency’s lawmaker, Awami League leader Latif Siddique, from parliament.
The Election Commission asked the aspirants to submit nomination papers by October 11. Kader Siddique submitted his papers too, but the returning officer cancelled his nomination on loan default charges on October 13. The Election Commission rejected his appeal to get candidacy as well.
Siddique then filed a petition with the High Court against the Election Commission’s decision, but the High Court upheld the commission’s decision and directed it to proceed with the by-poll on February 4.
On February 29, the Election Commission fixed March 20 as the fresh date to hold the by-poll in Tagail 4 constituency.
Source : dhakatribune
