Tangail-4 by-polls halted, Kader Siddiqui’s appeal hearing May 3

Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddiqui.

The Supreme Court today stayed the by-polls of Tangail-4 constituency that was scheduled to be held on March 20.

Meanwhile, the court also granted a leave to appeal petition filed by Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddiqui, who wants to be a contender in the by-polls.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha fixed May 3 for hearing the appeal of Kader Siddiqui challenging the HC verdict that upheld the cancellation of his candidacy for the by-polls.

Kader Siddiqui’s lawyer Raghib Rauf Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the SC may decide about the election of Tangail-4 on May 3 during the hearing of his client’s appeal.

On February 4, the High Court upheld the Election Commission’s decision that had cancelled the candidacy of Kader Siddiqui and directed the EC to proceed with the by-polls.

On February 29, the EC fixed March 20 for holding by-election to Tagail-4 constituency.

The EC on September 16 last year issued a notification fixing November 10 for the by-polls to the constituency that fell vacant following the resignation Awami League lawmaker Abdul Latif Siddique from parliament, and asked aspirants to submit nomination papers by October 11.

As the returning officer on October 13 cancelled Kader Siddiqui's nomination on loan default charges, he filed separate appeals, first with the EC and then with the HC.

Rejected by both EC and HC, Kader Siddiqui on February 25 filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the SC challenging the HC verdict.