BNP candidate Gafur Bhuiyan barred from contesting election in Cumilla–10

The High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision to cancel the candidacy of BNP nominee Md Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan over dual citizenship. As a result, he will not be able to contest the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election from the Cumilla–10, Lalmai–Nangalkot constituency.

The order was delivered on Thursday, January 22, by a High Court bench comprising Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam after the hearing concluded. Senior lawyers Barrister Fida M Kamal and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol represented Gafur Bhuiyan, while Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu and Advocate Yusuf Ali appeared for the complainant and the Election Commission.

Lawyers said that with the dismissal of the writ, the Election Commission’s decision remains in force. Consequently, Gafur Bhuiyan has lost the legal right to contest in this election.

Earlier, on January 18, the Election Commission cancelled Gafur Bhuiyan’s candidacy following an appeal hearing at the Election Commission building, citing allegations of dual citizenship. The appeal had been filed by Kazi Nure Alam Siddiqui, a candidate of the Bangladesh Cultural Liberation Alliance, from the same constituency. Challenging that decision, the BNP candidate filed a writ petition with the High Court on January 20. With Thursday’s verdict rejecting the petition, his path to participating in the election has now been closed.