Writ seeks cancellation of Tabith’s candidacy in city polls

A writ has been filed with the High Court seeking cancellation of Tabith Awal's candidacy in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral election.

AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, a retired justice of the Appellate Division, filed the writ with the court on Sunday, alleging that Tabith - a mayoral candidate of the BNP - concealed his wealth information in the election affidavit.

A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Md Khairul Alam may hold a hearing on the writ petition on Monday. 

The election commission and others concerned have been made respondents. 

On January 23, the writ petitioner Shamsuddin asked for the cancellation of Tabith's candidacy while meeting with Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam. He also submitted a written complaint to the chief election commissioner in this regard. 

On the same day, Shamsuddin told the reports that Tabith along with his two associates have shares in a Singaporean company named the NFM Energy Private Ltd.  

The trio became the owners of all shares of the company. The price of the company has been shown as $2 million, he continued. 

Tabith did not mention the company's name in his election affidavit, said Shamsuddin. 

According to rules, a candidate has to mention his/her and his family member's wealth information in the affidavit. 

As the election commission did not take any action regarding the appeal, Shamsuddin filed the writ petition.