Aslam Chowdhury, Sarwar Alam cannot take oath for now

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has registered separate applications of two BNP candidates from Chittagong, Aslam Chowdhury and Sarwar Alamgir, who sought permission to declare the results and take the oath as members in the 13th parliamentary election. 

At the same time, the full appeal hearing has been fixed for June 9.

The Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Zubair Rahman Chowdhury gave this order on Thursday. As a result, they are currently unable to take oath as members of parliament.

The 13th National Parliament election was held on February 12. Two BNP candidates, Aslam Chowdhury from Chittagong-4 constituency and Sarwar Alamgir from Chittagong-2 constituency, participated in the election. 

However, the announcement of their results was postponed by the Supreme Court on February 3 due to allegations of loan default. 

Meanwhile, it is known that the two BNP candidates in these two constituencies received much more votes than their rival candidates.

Earlier, Aslam Chowdhury’s nomination papers on loan default were declared valid on January 18, the last day of the appeal hearing at the Election Commission. 

The High Court dismissed the writ filed by the bank authorities challenging that decision. After that, the bank authorities later appealed to the Appellate Division. Jamaat candidate Md. Anwar Siddiqui filed a leave to appeal against the High Court order. Then on February 3, the Appellate Division granted a leave to appeal against the reinstatement of Aslam Chowdhury’s candidacy. As a result, Aslam Chowdhury got the opportunity to vote. But the results were ordered to be suspended until the appeal was settled. 

Aslam Chowdhury won the 13th National Parliament election on February 12. But the results were not published due to a court order.

Meanwhile, the High Court stayed the order to cancel Sarwar Alamgir’s candidacy in the Election Commission on charges of loan default. At the same time, it was ordered to give him a chance to run in the election. 

Jamaat candidate Muhammad Nurul Amin filed a leave to appeal in the Appellate Division against this order of the High Court.

Sarwar Alamgir won the election held on February 12 unofficially. But the results were not published due to a court order. In this situation, Sarwar Alamgir appealed for the declaration of the results and the opportunity to take the oath.

The Election Commission published the gazette of the elected members of parliament on February 13, the day after the 13th National Parliament election. 

The oath-taking of the members of parliament was held on February 17. 

However, the results of Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4 constituencies were not announced due to the order of the Supreme Court.