Bangladesh’s Appellate Division said elected and sworn-in Chattogram-2 lawmaker Sarwar Alamgir faces no bar to attending sessions of the Jatiya Sangsad. A four-member bench led by the chief justice issued the order on Wednesday morning, July 29.

Nurul Amin had applied to the Appellate Division against a High Court verdict that declared the Election Commission’s decision regarding Sarwar Alamgir valid. He sought a stay on the High Court ruling and an injunction preventing Alamgir from joining parliamentary sessions until the appeal was resolved. The Appellate Division heard the application on July 27 and 28 before setting the date for its order.

Before the election, Nurul Amin appealed to the Election Commission alleging loan default after the returning officer declared Alamgir’s candidacy valid. The commission cancelled his nomination on January 18, but the High Court later allowed him to contest. Alamgir was unofficially declared winner on February 12, though publication of the result was stayed by court order. On June 16, the Appellate Division directed the High Court to dispose of the rule quickly.