The High Court on Thursday dropped from its cause list a writ petition challenging legality of BNP mayoral candidate Kawsar Zaman Babla to contest in Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election.

The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque passed the order after hearing of a writ petition filed by Sonali Bank challenging legality of his candidature on charge of loan default, reports the UNB.

Barrister Bodruddoza Badol, lawyer of the BNP candidate, said that following the HC order, now there is no legal bar for the candidate to contest for the RCC mayor post.

Badol explained to journalists that the court took into consideration that the election is just a few days away and the Election Commission was not served with any prior notice on loan default in this regard.

On November 27, the Sonali Bank submitted a petition to the returning officer to cancel his candidature on charge of loan default after the returning officer accepted the candidacy of Kawsar the previous day.

However, the returning officer rejected the petition.

Then, the bank appealed to the divisional commissioner of Rangpur against the returning officer’s decision but the official also rejected the appeal on November 30.

Later, the bank authorities filed the petition with the HC on December 12.

The election will be held on December 21.