SC clears BNP’s Aslam, Sarwar to contest polls

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has cleared the way for BNP candidates Aslam Chowdhury and Sarwar Alamgir to contest the national parliamentary elections in the Chattogram-4 and Chattogram-2 constituencies respectively.

A bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, passed the order on Tuesday (February 3).

The order was issued in connection with a petition filed by Jamuna Bank, which challenged the validity of Aslam Chowdhury’s nomination for the Chattogram-4 constituency on allegations of loan default. Earlier, on February 1, the Appellate Division had heard an appeal against the Election Commission’s (EC) approval of his nomination.

In the case of the Chattogram-2 constituency, the High Court had stayed the cancellation of BNP-nominated candidate Sarwar Alamgir’s nomination and directed that he be allowed to participate in the election.

Sarwar’s nomination was cancelled by the Election Commission on January 18 following an appeal hearing. Although his nomination had initially been validated by the returning officer, Jamaat candidate Md Nurul Amin filed an appeal against him over allegations of loan default. After the hearing, the EC cancelled Alamgir’s nomination, prompting him to seek relief from the higher court, which ultimately restored his eligibility.