37 defeated candidates challenge election results in HC

Thirty-seven defeated candidates in the 13th National Parliamentary Election have filed petitions with the High Court's Election Tribunal challenging the results, alleging vote rigging and various irregularities.

The separate petitions were filed before a single bench of Justice Md Zakir Hossain until yesterday, Monday, March 16. The court has directed the Election Commission to preserve all materials including ballot papers and documents. Notices have also been issued to the winning candidates.

Among the petitioners, 22 are from BNP, 13 from Jamaat-e-Islami, one each from Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish and LDP. Several other defeated candidates are preparing to file petitions challenging the election results.

The BNP candidates include Nadira Akhtar from Madaripur-1, Shaharin Islam from Nilphamari-2, Md Sharifuzzaman from Chuadanga-1, M A Kayum from Dhaka-11, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi from Kushtia-4, Md Nabiullah Nabi from Dhaka-5, Faruk Alam from Gaibandha-5, Hasan Jafir Tuhin from Pabna-3, Akbar Ali from Sirajganj-4, Kamrul Huda from Cumilla-11, Tanvir Ahmed Robin from Dhaka-4, Aminul Haque from Dhaka-16, Syed Emran Saleh Prince from Mymensingh-1, Sohel Hosnain Kaikobad from Kurigram-2, Saiful Islam from Rangpur-6, Emdadul Haque Bhorsha from Rangpur-4, Md Sharifuddin from Rajshahi-1, DMD Ziaur Rahman from Rajshahi-4, Habibur Rahman Habib from Pabna-4, Sancila Zebrin from Sherpur-1, Motahar Hossain Talukder from Mymensingh-2 and Akhtarul Alam from Mymensingh-6.

The Jamaat candidates are party Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar from Khulna-5, Shamim Saeedi from Pirojpur-2, Dr Sultan Ahmed from Barguna-2, Iliash Molla from Narayanganj-2, Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan from Narayanganj-3, Anwarul Islam Raju from Lalmonirhat-1, Firoz Haider from Lalmonirhat-2, Abdul Mannan from Dhaka-6, Md Abdur Rahim Sarkar from Gaibandha-4, Md Enayetullah from Dhaka-7, Nur Ahmed Anwari from Cox's Bazar-4, Jasimuddin Sarkar from Dhaka-10 and Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan from Mymensingh-4.

Also among the petitioners are Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish Ameer Mamunul Haque from Dhaka-13 and LDP's Omar Faruk from Chattogram-14.