-- Kader Siddique, wife's nomination scrapped

-- Tk 10.88 crore in loan default

-- Nominations of 6 aspirants accepted

-- Election on November 10

Abdul Kader Siddique's nomination for the Tangail-4 by-polls has been scrapped for charges of over Tk 10 crore in loan default.

The Election Commission scrapped Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddique’s nomination for the Tangail-4 by-polls for charges of over Tk 10 crore in loan default. Star file photo

Returning Officer Mohammad Alimuzzaman told reporters today Kader Siddique's company Sonar Bangla Engineering had Tk 10.88 crore due at Agrani Bank.

He and his wife Nasrin Siddique were shareholders of the firm, he said citing a letter of Bangladesh Bank's Credit Information Bureau. "Nominations of both have been rejected."

The Kalihati constituency was vacated after Awami League's Abdul Latif Siddique, who is also Kader's brother, resigned in face of heat after some demeaning comments.

A total of 10 candidates filed nominations for the Kalihati by-polls. Six of the nominations were accepted by the Election Commission after scrutiny.

Kader Siddique, president of Krishak Sramik Janata League, apparently accepted the EC's decision and urged people to vote for other candidates of his party.

His party activists had scuffled with police on Bangabandhu Bridge coonecting road at Elenga in Kalihati and called for a daylong shutdown in Tangail for tomorrow.

But Kader called off the shutdown and urged people to vote for Ikbal Hossain Siddique, his party's joint secretary who has been cleared by the EC to run for the election.

The others who have also been cleared are: Krishak Sramik Janata League's Kalihati chief Hasmat Ali, Bangladesh Nationalist Front's Ataur Rahman, Awami League's Hasan Imam Khan (Sohel Hazari), Jatiya Party's Sadek Siddique and National People's Party's Imrul Kayes.

The Tangail-4 Kalihati by-poll will be held on November 10. Total 2.77 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the elections.