Many candidates of BNP and its alliance partners, including Khaleda Zia and many other front-ranking leaders, were declared invalid on Sunday by the Election Commission during scrutiny.
They include BNP Vice-chairmen Morshed Khan, Mir Nasir and Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, BNP chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) president Abdul Kader Siddiqui, ex-minister Barrister Aminul Haque, former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria’s son and Gano Forum runner Reza Kibria and Golam Maula Rony, who recently joined BNP.
In Dhaka, the returning officer declared BNP leader Amanullah Aman’s nomination illegal for the Dhaka-2 constituency as he was convicted in a corruption case. Besides, the nominations of BNP’s Dhaka-6 candidate and ex-Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka’s son Ishraque Hossain, Dhaka-1 runner Khandaker Abu Ashfaq and Dhaka-20 contender Sultan Ahmed were also revoked.
In Tangail, the nomination papers of KSJL chief Abdul Kader Siddiqui for Tangail-4 and Tangail-8 constituencies were rejected on the charge of loan default, said returning officer Shahidul Islam. Besides, the nominations two BNP runners — Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapan and ex-state minister Nur Mohammad Kahn — for Tangail-1 and Tangail-6 seats respectively were also declared invalid on the charge of loan default.
In Chattogram, the returning officer cancelled the nomination of BNP leader and former Foreign Minister Morshed Khan for Chattogram-8 constituency on the charge of not clearing the electricity bill. The returning officer also rejected the nominations of Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-7 while his son Samir Quader Chowdhury for Chattogram-6 due to loan default.
The nominations of BNP candidates Mir Nasir and his son Mir Helal for Chattogram-5, BNP joint secretary general Aslam Chowdhury for Chattogram-4 and Mostafa Kamal Pasha for Chattogram-3 were also annulled on the charge of loan default.
In Patuakhali, the nomination of former Awami League MP Golam Maula Rony for Patuakhali-3 seat was cancelled as he did not put his signature on the affidavit. On November 26, Rony joined BNP consciously deserting his party Awami League. Later, he received the BNP nomination letter for contesting the general election from Patuakhali-3.
In Habiganj, the returning officer cancelled the nomination of Gano Forum candidate Reza Kibria for Habiganj-1 constituency due to loan default.InNatore, returning officer Shah Reaz turned down the nomination of BNP’s organising secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu for Natore-2 seat as he was convicted in two cases.
However, his wife Sabina Yesmin’s candidature in the same constituency has been declared valid. Besides, Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Khan’s nomination for Natore-4 seat was rejected by the returning officer. In Rajshahi, the returning officer annulled the nomination papers of former BNP minister Barrister Aminul Haquefor Rajshahi-1.In Kishoreganj, the nomination of BNP’s Kishoreganj-2 candidate Maj (retd) Akhtaruzzaman was cancelled on the charge of loan default.
Besides, nominations ofBNP’s four other candidates – M Shariful Islam and Khaled Saifullah (Kishoreganj-1), Saiful Islam Sumon(Kishoreganj-3) and Suranjan Gosh (Kishoreganj-4) -– were also cancelled. Meanwhile, BNP alleged that the returning officer rejected the nomination papers of its four aspirants in Manikganj district questioning the authenticity of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s signature during the scrutiny.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia cannot contest the 11th parliamentary elections as the Election Commission on Sunday ditched her all the three nomination papers filed for contesting the polls from Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 seats for her conviction in two graft case. source: UNB
Our Staff Reporter adds: All the three nomination papers of opposition BNP’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia filed to contest the forthcoming national elections from three constituencies have been cancelled.
The respective returning officers cancelled her nomination papers submitted for Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 on the ground of serving jail in two corruption cases for 17 years.
Of them, the nomination paper of BNP’s alternative candidate for Bogura-7 Morshed Milton has also been cancelled but the nomination papers of two alternative candidates for Feni-1 and Bogura-6 were found valid.
Meanwhile, the major opposition BNP finds no candidate at least in four constituencies to contest the forthcoming general elections as nomination papers of all of its nominees in these constituencies have been rejected on various grounds.
The constituencies where nomination papers of the BNP candidates were rejected by the returning officers concerned through the scrutiny are Bogura-7, Dhaka-1, Sherpur-1 and Manikganj-2.
Nomination papers of a number of BNP candidates, including party’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia across the country, have been cancelled on different grounds including serving sentences.
Nomination papers of top opposition leaders including president of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League Bangababir Kader Siddiqui, BNP leaders M Morshed Khan, Barrister Aminul Haque, Mir Mohammed Nasiruddin, Amanullah Aman and Giasuddin Quader Ch0owdhury, former finance minister SAMS Kibria‘s son Reza Kibria, Golam Maula Rony have also been rejected by the returning officers concerned.
The candidates whose nominations have been rejected, however, would be able to file an appeal with the Election Commission by December 5 and their cases would be settled by December 8.
Meanwhile, the BNP termed the cancellation of nomination papers of Khaleda Zia as ‘part of government conspiracies.’
Briefing reporters at party central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi further alleged the nomination papers of the popular opposition candidates have been cancelled after searching out.
“Not only Khaleda Zia, but nomination papers of many popular opposition candidates have also been cancelled… This is not an isolated incident, rather the government wants to cling to power by holding a lopsided election forcibly” he said.
He termed cancellation of opposition candidatures as motivated and conspiratorial and said it was the part of government master plan to keep away Khaleda Zia from her popularity.
The BNP fielded alternative candidates in these constituencies so that they contest the polls if the nomination papers of the former premier are rejected.
Earlier, the High Court in an order on Thursday said that those sentenced to over two years in jail by a lower court in any graft case, with an appeal pending, would not be allowed to contest the general election.
Feni deputy commissioner and returning officer Md Wahiduzzaman cancelled Khaleda’s nomination paper for Feni-1 by mentioning her sentence.
Nomination papers of another BNP candidate Chagolnaiya party president Noor Ahmed Majumder and independent candidates Mizanur Rahman and Abul Basher Chowdhury have also been rejected.
The returning officer, however, announced the nomination paper of another BNP alternative candidate Rafiqul Alam Majumder valid.
Returning officer for Bogura district Foyez Ahamed also rejected Khaleda’s nomination papers for Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 constituencies on the same reasons.
Nomination papers of two BNP candidates for Dhaka-1 have been cancelled while three BNP candidatures in Sherpur and two other in Manikganj-2 constituencies have been cancelled. – Staff Reporter
