The Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division has suspended the inclusion of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name in the loan defaulter list. The order, issued on Monday by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, effectively removes any legal barrier to Manna’s participation in the upcoming election, according to lawyers involved in the case.

Earlier, the High Court had rejected Manna’s writ petition seeking removal of his name from the defaulter list. The case stems from a December 10 call-back notice issued by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Barogola branch to recover Tk 38.04 crore in defaulted loans from Afaku Cold Storage Limited, a company chaired by Manna. The notice identified Manna as holding a 50 percent ownership stake, with ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury and Ismat Ara Laiju holding 25 percent each.

Following the High Court’s rejection, Manna appealed to the Appellate Division, which has now stayed the earlier order, allowing him to proceed with his election plans pending further proceedings.