BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury will be able to contest in future elections subject to fulfilling the conditions of legal eligibility, said Attorney General Barrister Md. Ruhul Kuddus Kajal.
He made this statement in response to journalists' questions at his office on Tuesday (June 30) after the Appellate Division's verdict.
Earlier, a four-member Appellate Bench led by the Chief Justice cancelled the candidacy of Aslam Chowdhury, who was unofficially victorious in the 13th National Parliament election in the Chattogram-4 constituency. At the same time, the order not to publish his election results was upheld.
After the verdict, the Attorney General said, a person's disqualification is not permanent. If he overcomes the temporary disqualification and acquires eligibility according to the law in the future, there will be no legal bar for him to contest in the next election.
He further said, although Aslam Chowdhury was elected as the appeal was granted in the previous election, he could not enjoy the results. However, if the legal disqualification is removed in the future, he will be able to participate in the election again.
Earlier, after the hearing on June 15, the Appellate Division had set June 30 for the verdict.
In the case, senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir and Barrister A S M Shahriar Kabir argued on behalf of the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. They were accompanied by lawyer Md. Azim Uddin Patowary. On the other hand, senior lawyer Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon argued on behalf of Aslam Chowdhury.
Although his nomination paper was challenged in the Election Commission on charges of loan default, the commission declared it valid on January 18. Later, when the concerned bank went to court against that decision, the High Court dismissed the writ. The matter then escalated to the Appellate Division.
On February 3, the Appellate Division granted leave to appeal against the validation of Aslam Chowdhury's candidacy. However, it was ordered that he could participate in the election until the appeal was disposed of, but the results could not be published.
Later, although he won the National Parliament election on February 12, his results were not officially published due to the court's directive.
