Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) and BNP plunge into deep crisis as the scrutiny of nomination papers by election officials has left the arch-rivals without an official candidate in at least 19 constituencies.

In some constituencies, even the back-up or independent candidates loyal to the electoral alliances led by two parties were declared unfit to contest the polls.

At least 12 BNP candidates were declared unfit to contest the polls while five candidates of AL lost their candidature. Most of them lost their candidature due to non-payment of outstanding bills or loans.

The parties are now desperately looking for independents to support in the upcoming polls. AL leaders believe that it would be very difficult for them to get their rivals beaten in the constituencies where the AL ticket holders lost their candidature.

Nominations of Air Vice-marshal (retd) AK Khandker of Pabna-2 constituency, Maj Gen (retd) Abdus Salam of Mymensingh-9, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury of Feni-2, Mohammad Ali of Noakhali-6, M Idris Ali of Munshiganj-3 and Ataur Rahman Shamim of Moulvibazar-2 were cancelled among others due to defaulting on loans and bills.

“If we have no candidates in a constituency due to cancellation of nomination, we will nominate an independent to fill the gap,” AL Presidium member Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

AL-led grand alliance’s nomination of JP leaders Abdul Jabber of Pirojpur-3 and Golam Habib Dulal of Kurigram-4 lost their candidature for defaulting on loan repayments. The candidature of Mujibur Rahman of Munshiganj-3 was cancelled as he is the incumbent mayor of Munshiganj Municipality.

A number of nominations were cancelled as candidates filed their nomination papers with party nominations but failed to submit the party’s final nomination forms. AL candidates Habubur Rahman of Pirojpur-2, Abdul Hakim of Comilla-8 and Khorshed Alam Sujon of Chittagong-10 lost their candidature among others for this.

BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said, “Some candidates were declared unfit only for making simple mistakes.” He said their candidates faced problems due to the amendment of the Representation of the People Order.

The nominations of former BNP lawmaker Mostafa Kamal Pasha and independent candidate Mostafa Kamal Pasha Babul for Chittagong-16 were also cancelled due to defaulting on loan repayment. BNP leader Nurul Mostafa, who submitted nomination as an independent in the same constituency, lost his candidature for the same reason.

Election officials cancelled candidature of BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Jamal in Jhalakathi-1. BNP, however, has central Jubo Dal leader Rejaul Karim in the race there to fall back to since he filed his nomination as an independent.

BNP nominee Abed Raja lost his candidature for Moulvibazar-2 but former BNP lawmaker MM Shaheen is still in the race as an independent. He had failed to get the party ticket.

Anwar Hossain Bulu of Naogaon-6 lost the candidature due to defaulting on loan repayment. District BNP President and independent candidate Jalal Ahmed Bakul is likely to get the BNP support there.

BNP had nominated two people for Dhaka-11, Shahabuddin and MA Hashem, but both of them lost their candidature. Party insiders said BNP leader Anwaruzzaman Anwar, an independent candidate, may get their support.

BNP leaders Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and DCC councillor Kazi Abul Bashar got party tickets for Dhaka-6 but both of them were declared ineligible. A High Court order barred mayor’s participation in the polls while Bashar was identified as a loan defaulter.

BNP leaders Majeda Ahsan of Comilla-4, Sharif Khasruzzaman of Narail-2, Shahidul Alam Talukder of Patuakhali-2 and Dipen Dewan of Rangamati also lost their candidature as they were identified as loan defaulters.

Independent candidate and BNP leader Faruk Ahmed Talukder is now trying to get the party support in Patuakhali-2.

The candidacy of BNP’s Giasuddin Kader Chowdhury for Chittaging-5 was cancelled as he defaulted on loan repayment.

Former lawmakers Ataur Rahman Angur of Narayanganj-2 and Muhammad Giasuddin of Narayanganj-4 were declared unfit to contest the polls but BNP already had Badiuzzaman Khasru and Shah Alam as addition candidates in the seats.

BNP had nominated Abdus Salam Pintu for Tangail-2 but officials cancelled his candidature as his name came in second on the list his party gave to the returning officers. His brother Sultan Salauddin Tuku is now the party candidate for the constituency.