BNP demands cancellation of Jamaat candidate's nomination in Sylhet over concealment allegations

BNP has raised allegations of information concealment in the affidavit against Jamaat candidate Maulana Habibur Rahman in the Sylhet-1, Sadar–Nagar, constituency. Based on the allegations, the party has demanded the cancellation of his nomination papers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and necessary legal action.

Sylhet Metropolitan BNP's Acting President, Rezaul Hasan Qayes Lodi, who is also the chief election agent for BNP candidate Khondaker Abdul Muqtadir in Sylhet-1, submitted the written complaint to the District Returning Officer and District Magistrate on Monday, February 9.

In the absence of the District Magistrate, Deputy Director of the Local Government Department, Subarna Sarker, accepted the complaint on behalf of the Returning Officer. Senior BNP leaders, including Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, were present at the time.

The complaint states that the Jamaat candidate declared in his affidavit that he is not a director or shareholder of any company and is not involved with any loans or liabilities. However, according to documents from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, RJSC, he is a director of "Ibn Sina Hospital Sylhet Limited" and a shareholder of "Al Haramah Medical Services Limited."

BNP claims that the concerned company, Ibn Sina Hospital Sylhet Limited, has taken a loan of Tk 24 crore, 1 lakh, 27 thousand, and 448 from banks and financial institutions, which is currently overdue. The failure to mention this in the affidavit makes it 'untrue' and 'misleading,' the complaint alleges.

BNP leaders stated that the candidate intentionally concealed important information, which constitutes a violation of election laws.

Metropolitan BNP's Acting President Rezaul Hasan Qayes Lodi said providing false information in an affidavit is a punishable offence under sections 181 and 193 of the Penal Code, 1860. He also alleged that it was aimed at misleading voters and the Election Commission.

He said they have asked the Returning Officer and District Magistrate to cancel the Jamaat candidate's nomination and take legal action against him.

Meanwhile, Sylhet Metropolitan Jamaat has protested and condemned what it calls an attempt to spread confusion regarding the business affiliations of its candidate, Maulana Habibur Rahman.

At a press conference held at the chief election office of the party's candidate near Dhopadighir Par in the city, Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam said Habibur Rahman has no loans or irregularities.

He made a counter-allegation, stating that 163 nominated MP candidates of BNP across the country are loan defaulters, and 59 of them are major loan defaulters. They have defaulted on large loans. While hiding these facts, baseless allegations are being raised against their candidate with an ulterior motive.

The Jamaat leader claimed that such allegations are nothing but an attempt to politically discredit the opponent.