The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has disqualified BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, the unofficially elected candidate for the Chittagong-4 (Sitakunda) constituency, due to loan default.
The four-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, delivered the final verdict on Tuesday (June 30).
His election results cannot be officially gazetted, and he is barred from taking the oath as a Member of Parliament, the verdict says.
Senior Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir and Barrister A S M Shahriar Kabir held hearing at the bench on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md. Anwar Siddiqui and the bank authorities appealed to the Appellate Division.
On the other hand, senior advocates Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Miftah Uddin Chowdhury held hearing on behalf of Aslam Chowdhury.
Despite the loan default allegations, the Election Commission (EC) declared Aslam Chowdhury's nomination valid on the day of appeal hearing on January 18 last.
Then the bank concerned filed a writ challenging the EC's decision, which was subsequently dismissed by the High Court.
Later, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Anwar Siddiqui and the bank authorities appealed to the Appellate Division against the High Court order. On February 3, the Appellate Division granted leave-to-appeal, allowing him to contest the election but ordering the results to be stayed until final disposal.
Although Aslam Chowdhury won the election held on February 12, the official gazette was withheld due to the court's stay order.
Following hearings that concluded on June 15, the court set June 30 for the verdict, ultimately canceling his candidacy.
END/COURT CORRESPONDENT/ASA
