Staff Reporter:
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a High Court order that validated the nomination paper of Shahadat Hossain, younger brother of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, for the upcoming Companiganj Upazila Parishad Election in Noakhali.
A seven-member bench led by Senior Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order.
Advocates Ekramul Haque Tutul, Taposh Kumar Biswas and Tamanna Ferdous stood for Shahadat while Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Morshed moved for another candidate Golam Sharif.
On 14 May, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to accept the nomination paper of Shahadat as a chairman candidate in Noakhali’s Companigonj upazila parishad election slated for 29 May.
Three other people had also submitted nomination papers to contest the polls.
The candidates are Upazila Jubo League’s former convener and businessman Mohammad Golam Sharif Chowdhury Piplu, former upazila parishad chairman and upazila Awami League’s incumbent General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Badal and US expatriate Omar Ali.
On 5 May, Shahadat’s nomination paper was rejected on charge of concealing information regarding lawsuits and income in the affidavit.
Later, he submitted an appeal to Noakhali’s deputy commissioner and returning officer Dewan Mahbubur Rahman, but Dewan also rejected the nomination paper after holding a hearing on 9 May.
Shahadat Hossain filed a petition with the HC challenging the order.
