HC asks how accused of loan fraud has become MP

The High Court has asked how Chief Whip ASM Feroz, accused of loan fraud, has become a Member of the Parliament. Justices Salma Masud Chowdhury and Md Habibul Gani issued the rule after a preliminary hearing on a writ petition on Monday. Barrister Rafiq-ul-Haque represented the plaintiff in the hearing along with Barrister ABM Siddikur Rahman and Barrister M Mainul Islam. Deputy Attorney General M Mokhlesur Rahman was present on behalf of the state. The writ filed by Bauphal Municipality Mayor Ziaul Huq Jewel said ASM Feroz rescheduled his loan four days before submitting his nomination paper and the Bangladesh Bank approved it the next day. Feroz was not eligible to contest the election according to 12(M) of the Representation of the People Act (RPO), the writ said. “Loans have to be rescheduled at least seven days before submission of nomination papers,” Siddikur Rahman told reporters after the hearing. “But Feroz was a loan fraudster until Nov 26 according to Bangladesh Bank’s Credit Information Bureau,” according to a news agency.