BNP-backed candidate Manjurul Ahsan cannot contend polls in Hasanat's seat

BNP-nominated candidate for the Cumilla-4 constituency Manjurul Ahsan Munshi has become ineligible to contest the upcoming election due to loan default.

The Chamber Court of the Applleate Division stayed a High Court (HC) order that had suspended the list of loan defaulters on Thursday. As a result, BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan will remain listed as a loan defaulter.

Earlier, on January 3, following the scrutiny of nomination papers in 11 parliamentary constituencies in Cumilla, the Returning Officer (RO) Md. Reza Hasan declared the nomination papers of 31 candidates invalid. On the same day, the nomination papers of 76 candidates, including Manjurul Ahsan, were initially declared valid.

In the meantime, Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s name appeared on the list of loan defaulters. Although the High Court had suspended the list, the Chamber Court stayed that suspension on Thursday.

It is worth noting that after scrutinising nomination papers on January 3, RO and Deputy Commissioner Md. Reza Hasan stated that the nomination papers of five candidates in Cumilla-1, four in Cumilla-2, two in Cumilla-3, two in Cumilla-4, one in Cumilla-5, and two in Cumilla-6 were cancelled.

These nominations were cancelled due to signature discrepancies on nomination papers, inconsistencies in the mandatory one-percent voter support list, incomplete documentation, and failure to properly submit bank account details.

However, RO Md. Reza Hasan added that the disqualified candidates would be able to appeal within the timeframe prescribed by law.