At least 11 out of 45 identified loan defaulters were able to contest and win seats in the 13th National Parliamentary elections this year after securing stay orders from the High Court. With these victories, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a majority in Parliament.
However, the Election Commission (EC) has withheld the official gazette notification for two constituencies-Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4-pending final settlement of default-related cases. The elected candidates from these constituencies were not invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Members of Parliament to be held today (Tuesday), February 17.
They are- BNP's Sarwar Alamgir of Chattogram-2; Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury of Chattogram-4; BNP's Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury of Chattogram-6; Md. Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan of Cumilla-10; Md. Abul Kalam of Cumilla-9; Kazi Rafiqul Islam of Bogura-1; Golam Mohammad Siraj of Bogura-5; Md. Lutfar Rahman of Tangail-4; Mohammad Zakir Hossain of Mymensingh-5; Md. Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury of Moulvibazar and Khandaker Abdul Muktadir of Sylhet-1. Results of Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 seats remained suspended due to court order.
Besides, the default loans of BNP's Jasim Uddin Ahmed of Chattogram-14 and Jamaat-e-Islami's Dr. Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid of Jessore-2 were cleared ahead of the election after payment of loan installments.
While talking to this correspondent, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman stated that while all citizens are equal before the law, small borrowers often face imprisonment, whereas influential individuals sometimes manage to contest elections without repaying dues, relying on court orders. He emphasized that if such practices persist, they undermine state reform efforts and called on authorities to close legal loopholes.
Bangladesh Bank spokesperson and Executive Director Arif Hossain Khan described participation under stay orders as a "temporary solution." He expressed hope that the elected MPs would take initiative to regularize their loans through repayment or rescheduling for a permanent resolution and would advocate against loan default culture within Parliament.
Under the Representation of the People Order (RPO), loan defaulters are ineligible to contest elections. The amended RPO further stipulates that even after being elected, an MP's membership may be cancelled if evidence emerges that they are a loan defaulter or provided false information in their affidavit.
Legal experts said that if the High Court's stay orders are lifted and the candidates are declared defaulters, they may lose their parliamentary seats. However, if the loans are repaid in full or regularized during the stay period, the risk of disqualification may be mitigated. Conversely, if the stay expires without settlement, or if fresh defaults occur during their tenure, the MPs may again face potential disqualification.
The deadline for submission of nomination papers was December 29. On December 30, the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) of Bangladesh Bank submitted two lists to the EC after verifying candidates' loan information. One list identified 82 loan defaulters. The other named 31 individuals who had obtained High Court stay orders.
Among the 31 candidates with stay orders, only BNP nominee from Cumilla-4, Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, was dropped during the EC's appeal hearing. The remaining 30 contested the election. Of the 82 initially disqualified as defaulters, 15 regained eligibility through appeal hearings or court-ordered suspensions. After completing all legal procedures, returning officers allocated election symbols and published the final list of candidates on January 21.
According to the EC statement, BNP's Sarwar Alamgir of Chattogram-2 won with 138,545 votes (paddy sheaf symbol). His nearest rival, Mohammad Nurul Amin of Jamaat-e-Islami, received 62,160 votes. Alamgir's Tk 201 crore default loan, linked to NFZ Terry Textiles at Standard Bank's Agrabad branch, remains under judicial review. The announcement of his official result is suspended pending final settlement of CPLA No. 440/2026 in the Appellate Division.
Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury of Chattogram-4 won with 142,674 votes, defeating Jamaat candidate Anwar Siddique Chowdhury, who received 89,268 votes. His company's loans from Bank Asia and Trust Bank were in default. Although he secured successive stay orders, the EC has suspended gazette notification of his result until the appeal is resolved.
BNP's Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury's Chattogram-6 has a stay order valid until February 23 concerning default allegations. Md. Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan of Cumilla-10, whose two institutions are defaulters of Bank Asia, received a High Court order on January 25 directing acceptance of his nomination and allocation of the party symbol.
Md. Abul Kalam of Cumilla-9 secured a stay order effective until disposal of his appeal. Kazi Rafiqul Islam of Bogura-1's stay orders expired on January 25, while two others remain valid until March 7 and April 22. Golam Mohammad Siraj of Bogra-5 faces four default-related cases; stay orders in two cases expire on February 24 and March 16, while the remaining two are pending disposal. Md. Lutfar Rahman of Tangail-4 has a stay order valid until May 24 regarding default allegations. He defeated former Awami League minister and independent candidate Latif Siddiqui.
Mohammad Zakir Hossain of Mymensingh-5, a defaulter at the Banani branch of Classic Fashion Premier Bank, has a stay order until June 6. Md. Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury of Moulvibazar-4 seat's default case remains stayed until the High Court disposes of the appeal.
A stay order remains in effect concerning loans linked to FM Yarn Dyeing and Magnum Enterprise, owned by Khandaker Abdul Muktadir of Sylhet-1.
In one case, Alhaj Jasim Uddin Ahmed of Chattogram-14 cleared his default before the nomination deadline by depositing required payments on December 23 and 25. His nomination was subsequently declared valid. Similarly, Dr. Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid of Jessore-2, elected from Jamaat-e-Islami, cleared his credit card loan default with Prime Bank on January 1. Though his candidacy was initially cancelled, he regained eligibility on appeal on January 18.
