Awami League candidate in Barishal-4 constituency, Shammi Ahmed, and independent candidate for Barishal-5 and also former mayor of Barishal City Corporation, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, are out of the election race.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today turned down a leave-to-appeal petition lodged by Awami League candidate Shammi Ahmed, seeking withdrawal of Election Commission's cancellation of her candidature.

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The Division also upheld the cancellation of the candidacy of Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, passed the orders after hearing.

Lawyers, including Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Advocate Momtaj Uddin Fakir, Advocate Shah Monjurul Haque and Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju, stood for Shammi Ahmed in court today.

On December 15, Awami League candidate for Barisal-4 constituency Shammi Ahmed's candidacy was cancelled by the Election Commission on the allegation of dual citizenship.

Later, on December 18, the High Court dismissed the writ petition filed by Shammi Ahmed against the cancellation of her candidature.

On December 19, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division upheld the High Court order rejecting another writ petition filed by Shammi Ahmed challenging the cancellation of her candidature.

On December 22, Shammi Ahmed filed a petition with the chamber judge court of the Appellate Division seeking allocation of election symbols.

On the other hand, the returning officer declared the independent candidate for Barishal-5 constituency, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, valid.

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But Awami League-nominated candidate for the same constituency, Zahid Faruk, appealed to the Election Commission, seeking cancellation of Sadiq’s candidacy on the allegation of dual citizenship.

On December 15, the Election Commission (EC) cancelled the candidature of Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah.

Later, Sadiq filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the EC’s order.

On December 18, the High Court stayed the Election Commission's order after hearing a writ petition filed by Sadiq.

The next day, Zahid Faruk filed a petition with the chamber judge of the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the High Court order.

After hearing the petition, the chamber judge stayed the High Court order. Sadiq filed a petition seeking withdrawal of the stay order issued by the chamber judge. The regular bench of the Appellate Division dismissed the petition today.