Kader Siddique’s nomination cancelled

The Election Commission on Tuesday has scrapped the nominations of four candidates including Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) president Abdul Kader Siddique, his wife Nasrin Siddique in the upcoming by-election to Tangail-4 constituency due to loan default charges.

Returning officer Md Alimuzzaman confirmed the cancellations as the nominations were being scrutinised today.

Two more nominations submitted by Ershad-led Jatiya Party candidate Syed Mostaq Hossen, and independent candidate Abdul Alim – were also scrapped for different reasons, the returning officer said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Front candidate Ataur Rahman Khan and KSJL Kalihati upazila unit president candidate Hasmat Ali were asked to provide necessary documents to the election commission by 5:00pm to escape the deletion of nominations, he said.

The election commission, so far, declared four aspirants legal to vie for the by-polls. They are – Hasan Imam Khan from Awami League, Anwar Hossain Manju-led Jatiya Party candidate Sadek Siddiki, another KSJL candidate Iqbal Hossen Siddique, and National Peoples Party candidate Imrul Kayes.

Meanwhile, Krishak Sramik Janata League called a day long general strike in Tangail district for Wednesday protesting the cancellations of nominations of the party president and his wife.

KSJL executive committee member, Iqbal Hossen Siddique, also its joint secretary, declared the shutdown after the cancellation was announced.

A number of 10 aspirants including one from the ruling Awami League and four from the Krishak Sramik Janata League filed nominations for the by-elections which is scheduled for November 10.

The deadline for the withdrawal of nominations will expire on October 21 and election symbols will be allocated on October 22.