Parliamentary aspirants are rushing to banks to reschedule their debt after the government okayed an amendment to the electoral laws and the Election Commission (EC) extended the deadline for filing nominations.
Approved by the council of advisers Sunday, the amendment to the Representation of People Order (RPO) says payments of loans and utility bills can be rescheduled till seven days before submission of nominations. Earlier, it was 15 days.
According to the fresh timetable, the closing date for submitting nominations is November 20, changed from 13. It means the candidates will now be able to reschedule their debt until November 13, Humayun Kabir, secretary to the EC Secretariat, told reporters.
A senior official of state-owned Sonali Bank told The Daily Star that leaders from both Awami League (AL) and BNP have contacted them in the last two days. Some have already submitted applications for rescheduling.
Another official of the same bank said a good number of aspiring candidates have already rescheduled their loans sensing the change in the RPO.
Officials at state-owned Janata Bank and Agrani Bank said many have called to enquire about the matter. They said they would
FROM PAGE 16
regularise the loans on applications as per the rules.
Officials of private banks said they too have been contacted by prospective candidates defaulting on loans.
A Pubali Bank official said so far three persons have applied for rescheduling.
The Daily Star has collected names of some parliamentary hopefuls defaulting on loans. Some of them have applied to reschedule the debts to bid successfully for candidacy in the December 18 election.
ASM Firoz, who seeks AL nomination, has been defaulting on a Tk 8 crore loan from Sonali Bank. He took the money for Patuakhali Jute Mills.
A bank source said Firoz has applied for rearranging the payments.
Major (retd) Manjur Quader, a former BNP lawmaker, took out around Tk 32 crore from Sonali Bank. Trial of a case involving the loan is pending with the High Court.
Another former BNP lawmaker, Major (retd) Akhteruzzaman, took approximately Tk 35 crore from Agrani Bank for Gachihata Aquaculture Farms Ltd.
BNP leader ZA Khan borrowed Tk 56 crore from Agrani Bank for Potato Flakes (BD) Ltd.
Nabila Chowdhury of BNP, a former lawmaker from women's reserved seats, is also accused of defaulting on loans from Agrani
Mamata 'Wahab, a relative of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, has been in default on her Tk 40 crore loan from Agrani Bank.
Former AL lawmaker Ali Ashraf had Tk 1.5 crore in default loans.
AL leader Alamgir Alam had around Tk 75 crore from Sonali Bank in the name of Shamsul Alamin Cotton Mills Ltd.
Former BNP lawmaker Chowdhury Akmal Ibne Yusuf, also brother of former BNP minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, has been in default on a loan of Tk 25 crore from Sonali Bank.
Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, who had earlier run on AL ticket, has been defaulting on Tk 40 crore he borrowed for Beximco Denim and Beximco Fashion.
Besides, he has been in default in payment of his over Tk 100 crore loans from Sonali Bank and Shilpa Bank. The money was meant for Beximco Textile.