HC questions legality of his holding office

The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of holding the office of Member of Parliament by Chief Whip ASM Feroz, following a petition over a default loan.
The court sought an explanation from the government, the Election Commission and Feroz in this regard in four weeks.
The bench of Justice Salma Masud Choudhury and Justice Md Habibul Gani issued the rule in response to a writ by Zia-ul Haque, municipality mayor of Bauphal in Patuakhali.
The petitioner also appealed that the HC declare Feroz's candidacy illegal and his seat vacant.
Feroz won the January 5 polls uncontested from Patuakhali-2 constituency.
The ruling comes amid widespread criticism over his asking for money from those who want to give him any present.
At his reception programme at of Bauphal in Patuakhali on Friday, Feroz said: "I'll receive no more crests. If anyone wants to give me any present, I want cash. Cash is what I want…. Don't you understand? Huge money is needed to contest polls.”
According to the petition, Feroz did not reschedule his bank loan on time as mandatory under the Representation of the People Order.
Under the law, he was supposed to reschedule the loan by November 24 last year to be able to run in the election.
Feroz is the director of Patuakhali Jute Mills which is a loan defaulter since 2009, the petition says, adding that Feroz rescheduled the Sonali Bank loan on November 27 and therefore was not qualified to contest the election.