The Appellate Division Eanted Salman F Rahman ave to appeal against the High Court judgement and rejected Dr Kamal Hossain s prayer for disposal of the appeal before the June 12 par liamentaiy election.

The full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Abu Taher Mohammad Afzal also rejected another prayer Dr Kamal s for stay of the election process in the Dhaka-9 Jatiya Sangsad constituency till disposal of the appeal.

The highest Judiciary of the country further rejected Dr

Kamal's prayer for dispensa tion of the 'Paper Book' in view of the hearing of the appeal today or on the following court-day.

Just after passing of the order. Barrister Amir-ul Islam wanted to know whether the court would dispose of the appeal before June 12. the election day. The Chief Justice replied in the negative.

Giving his reaction immediately after the judgement. Dr Kamal said. "A person, prima facie. a bank loan defaulter, declared by the Ministry of Finance, without being properly scrutinised Is going to contest the election only on the basis of the stay order

The division of the HC comprising Justice Qazi Shafiuddin and Justice Syed J R Modassir Hussain bv the judgement dated May 30 on Dr Kamal Hossain s writ petition set aside the order of the Returning Officer accepting Salman s nomination paper and the order of the Election Commission expressing it s In ability to review the said order of acceptance

The HC also sent back the matter to the EC on remand for It s disposal in accordance with law and in the light of the observations ' made in the Judgement

The HC judgement held that the EC nas power to re view the order passed by any of it's functionaries

According to the writ petl tion. the then Returning Officer of Dhaka metropolitan city. Inspite of receiving re ports from the Ministry of Finance and the Eastern Bank Ltd contending that Salman Is a bank loan defaulter, accepted Salman's nomination paper

Upon an appeal of Dr Kamal the EC observed that the order of the Returning Officer was "unfortunate and self-contra dictorv "

The Returning Officer was later removed from office fol lowing alleged irregularities

Yesterday Barrister Amir ul Islam submitted that the HC merely re-enforced the elec tion process by giving a dtrec tion for doing a lawful scrutiny which Salman managed to evade

Dr Md Zahir appeared for the Soiltech International Ltd and Barrister Rokenuddin Mahmood represented the Eastern Bank Ltd

Barrister Raflque-ul Huq and Mahmudul Islam, both are Senior Advocates moved for Salman F Rahman.