The High Court today directed the Election Commission to allow Ashraful Hossain alias Hero Alom to contest the upcoming Bogura-4 and Bogura-6 by-elections as an independent candidate.
The court stayed the EC's decision to cancel his nominations for the elections slated for February 1.
The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton passed the order after hearing two writ petitions filed by Hero Alom challenging the EC decision.
Hero Alom's lawyer Iarul Islam told that there is no legal bar now for his client to contest the by-polls.
On January 12, the EC rejected Hero Alom's appeal against the returning officers' decision to cancel his nomination papers as they found a discrepancy in the voter list submitted by the candidate.
According to the Representation of the People Order, 1972, in the case of an independent candidate, he or she needs to provide a list of one percent of electors of the constituency concerned, along with their signatures.
By-elections to six constituencies, including Bogura-4 and Bogura-6, will be held on February 1.
