C T Online Desk: The Appellate Division has annulled the candidacy of BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, who was unofficially declared the winner of the 13th parliamentary election in Chittagong-4.
This means his election result cannot be published, lawyers said.
The four-member Appellate Bench, led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, delivered the verdict on Tuesday.
The court had fixed Tuesday, for the verdict after concluding hearings on June 15.
Senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir and Barrister ASM Shahriar Kabir represented the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, assisted by lawyer Md Azim Uddin Patwary. Senior lawyer Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared for Aslam Chowdhury.
On January 18, the final day of appeal hearings before the Election Commission, Aslam Chowdhury’s nomination paper was declared valid despite allegations that he was a loan defaulter.
A bank challenged that decision by filing a writ petition, but the High Court dismissed it. The bank later appealed to the Appellate Division.
Jamaat candidate Md Anwar Siddiqui also sought leave to appeal against the High Court’s order.
On February 3, the Appellate Division granted leave to appeal against the order upholding Aslam Chowdhury’s candidacy.
As a result, Aslam Chowdhury was allowed to contest the election. However, the court ordered that the election result would remain stayed and could not be published until the appeal was finally disposed of.
Aslam Chowdhury was declared the winner in the February 12 election, but the result was never officially published due to the court’s order.
