An MP who entered parliament under a High Court stay on his loan default status has been inducted into the BNP’s new cabinet, intensifying scrutiny over Bangladesh’s entrenched default culture.
Under a document signed by BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Sylhet-1 MP Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has been assigned three ministries – commerce, industries, and textiles and jute.
Muktadir contested and won the election under court protection that temporarily suspended his classification as a defaulter.
Under the Rules of Business, he will oversee import and export policy, industrial strategy, export promotion and trade expansion.
The ministry also supervises the textile sector, including ready-made garments, jute development and marketing, consumer protection, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh and relevant regulatory bodies.
In the 13th parliament, nine BNP lawmakers previously listed as defaulters won seats after securing High Court stays.
Overall, 45 defaulters from multiple parties contested under similar legal protection, including candidates from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan and the Bangladesh Republican Party, as well as 11 independents.
Of them, 11 BNP candidates were elected. One Jamaat candidate won after repaying bank dues and regaining eligibility through the court. The results of two BNP winners remain ungazetted as their cases are pending before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
The appointment comes as the banking sector struggles under a heavy default burden. Nearly 36 per cent of total disbursed loans are classified as default, amounting to Tk6.44 lakh crore.
BNP leaders argue that many of their members became defaulters due to what they describe as state repression under the previous Awami League government, which they say disrupted business operations.
Former World Bank Dhaka office lead economist Zahid Hussain told TIMES that the appointments cannot be legally challenged, as the individuals assumed office under court orders.
However, he said the real test lies in how the new government tackles the culture of default.
“You will not find saints everywhere,” he said, adding that public judgment will hinge on financial sector reforms.
Bangladesh Bank’s Credit Information Bureau (CIB) sources said loans of FM Yarn Dyeing and Magnum Enterprise, owned by Muktadir, were listed as defaulted, with related cases pending in court. The High Court has stayed the CIB classification until final disposal.
BNP lawmakers elected after securing court stays include Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury of Chattogram-6, Md Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan of Cumilla-10, Md Abul Kalam of Cumilla-9, Kazi Rafiqul Islam of Bogra-1, Golam Mohammad Siraj of Bogra-5, Md Lutfor Rahman of Tangail-4, Mohammad Zakir Hossain of Mymensingh-5, Md Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury of Moulvibazar-4, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir of Sylhet-1, Sarwar Alamgir of Chattogram-2 and Aslam Chowdhury of Chattogram-4.
Gazette publication for Alamgir and Aslam Chowdhury remains suspended pending final disposal of their appeals.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Mohammad Moslehuddin Farid initially had his nomination cancelled over default status but later cleared bank dues, regained eligibility through a court order and won from Jashore-2.
