'Nomination upheld, but repay the bank loan,' EC tells BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury
Two banks had filed appeals with the EC seeking cancellation of Aslam Chowdhury's nomination
The Election Commission (EC) has upheld the nomination of BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury for the Chattogram-4 constituency, while cancelling the candidacy of another BNP nominee, Sarwar Alamgir, in Chattogram-2 over loan default issues.
The EC accepted an appeal challenging the validity of Sarwar Alamgir's nomination, ruling that he is a loan defaulter. As a result, his candidacy for the Chattogram-2 seat has been annulled.
In contrast, the EC's appellate hearing declared Aslam Chowdhury's nomination valid on Sunday (18 January), the final day of appeal hearings for candidates whose nominations were cancelled during scrutiny by returning officers ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election.
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Earlier, two banks had filed appeals with the EC seeking cancellation of Aslam Chowdhury's nomination.
During the hearing, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud announced the decision to uphold Aslam Chowdhury's nomination, while also issuing a cautionary remark.
"We have validated your nomination. But repay the bank loan. If you fail to do so, public anger may build. I am saying this to you as a human being," the commissioner said.
The hearing on Aslam Chowdhury's appeal involved lengthy arguments from both sides before the commission delivered its verdict.
Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal, a member of the BNP's central election committee, appeared in support of the BNP candidate during the appeal hearing. He said that BNP-nominated candidate Aslam Chowdhury did not personally take any loan; he only acted as a guarantor.
The EC has been conducting appeal hearings as part of the nomination scrutiny process in the run-up to the national election, reviewing decisions made earlier by returning officers regarding candidates' eligibility.
