SC clears way for AL rebel candidate in Kachua

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order that asked the returning officer concerned to allow Awami League's rebel mayor candidate Ahsan Habib Pranjol to contest in the Kachua municipality election in Chandpur.

Justice Md Imman Ali passed a "no order" on a petition filed by Nazmul Alam, the AL nominated mayor candidate, challenging the HC order.

Ahsan's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and Nazmul's lawyer Abdul Baset Majumder told The Daily Star that now there was no legal bar to Ahsan contesting in the polls.

Khurshid said the returning officer of Chandpur cancelled Ahsan's nomination over concealing information about the number of cases filed against him.

Ahsan in the affidavit submitted to the returning officer mentioned that he had secured acquittal in all five cases against him whereas 15 cases were filed against him, said Khurshid, adding that he was acquitted in all 15 cases.   The HC on December 23 directed the returning officer to accept his nomination.