SC again stays Tangail-4 by-polls

The Supreme Court yesterday once again stayed the Tangail-4 by-polls that was scheduled to be held on March 20.

The apex court also permitted Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique to move an appeal before it, challenging a High Court verdict that upheld cancellation of his candidacy for 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.

The apex court passed the order following a leave-to-appeal petition filed by Kader Siddique challenging the HC verdict.

Kader Siddique's lawyer Raghib Rauf Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the SC might decide the polls to the constituency during the May 3 hearing, as it yesterday did not specifically say how long the stay order would remain effective.

Meanwhile, Election Commission's (EC) lawyer Mohammad Yeasin Khan said the by-polls would remain halted till May 3.

On February 4, the HC upheld the EC's decision that had cancelled the candidacy of Kader Siddique, and directed the EC to proceed with the by-polls in accordance with laws.

On February 29, the EC fixed March 20 for holding the by-election.

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 of 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 Siddique'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 Siddique on February 25 filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the SC, challenging the HC verdict.