SC stays Tangail by-polls till disposal of plea

The Supreme Court yesterday extended its order that had stayed the Tangail-4 by-election until the High Court disposes of the rule over the candidacy of Krishak Shramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique.

The SC also asked the HC to dispose of the rule by January 31 next year.

A four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, gave the order after hearing a petition, in which the Election Commission challenged an HC order that asked EC to accept Kader Siddique as a candidate.

The by-election is scheduled for November 10.

On October 21, following a writ petition filed by Kader Siddique, the HC directed EC to accept his candidacy and also asked EC and the government to explain why cancellation of his candidacy for loan defaults could not be declared illegal.

On October 27, the SC stayed the election till yesterday. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who appeared for EC, told reporters that EC could not conduct the election until the HC disposedof the rule.

Kader Siddique's candidacy was cancelled on October 13.

Kader filed a petition with EC against the decision, but the commission rejected it on October 18. He later challenged the decision at the HC. The Tangail-4 constituency was declared vacant on September 1 after Awami League lawmaker Latif Siddique resigned.