The Appellate Division on Tuesday cancelled the candidacy of BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, preventing the publication of his election result from the Chattogram-4 constituency and barring him from taking the oath as a member of parliament.
A four-member bench led by the Chief Justice delivered the verdict after concluding hearings on June 15.
Aslam Chowdhury had won the 13th National Parliament election in Chattogram-4 unofficially, but the result remained suspended under a court order pending the appeal.
Senior lawyers Mohammad Shishir Manir and Barrister ASM Shahriar Kabir represented Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md. Anwar Siddiqui, while lawyer Md. Azim Uddin Patwary was also present.
Senior lawyer Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared for Aslam Chowdhury.
The dispute stemmed from allegations that Aslam Chowdhury was a loan defaulter. The Election Commission had declared his nomination valid on January 18 after an appeal hearing.
The High Court later dismissed a writ petition filed by the bank challenging that decision. The bank appealed, while Jamaat candidate Md. Anwar Siddiqui filed a petition seeking leave to appeal against the High Court ruling.
On February 3, the Appellate Division granted leave to appeal but allowed Aslam Chowdhury to contest the election, ordering that the result would remain suspended until the case was decided.
Although Aslam Chowdhury won the February 12 election, the result was not published because of the court's order. Tuesday's verdict cancelled his candidacy, meaning the result cannot be published and he cannot take the oath.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
