No bar for independent candidate Habib to contest polls

There is no bar for Mohammad Habibur Rahman, an independent candidate for Lakshmipur-1 constituency, to contest the general elections as the High Court asked the Election Commission to give back his candidacy.

The bench of Justice Md Iqbal Kabir and Justice SM Moniruzzaman passed the order on Wednesday after a hearing.

Earlier on Monday, the EC summoned Habib to Dhaka and held a hearing on allegations raised against him, and on Tuesday, it canceled his candidacy.

Sources in the Election Commission said Lakshmipur deputy commissioner and returning officer complained to EC that Habib misbehaved with him through a WhatsApp call on December 30.

He also threatened to take different actions against the returning officer and the district police superintendent, including transferring them within three days, the sources said.

Later, the EC asked the district election officer to investigate the allegations and the probe found the accusations true, the sources added.

FH/SU