The district returning officer has suspended the nomination of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Mahbubul Alam Salehi in the Kurigram-3 (Ulipur) constituency during scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th national parliamentary election. At the same time, the returning officer declared the nomination of BNP leader Abdul Khalek invalid over allegations of forged voter signatures.
The decisions were confirmed on Friday morning, after the completion of scrutiny, by Abu Bakkar Siddique, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate at the control room of the returning officer’s office.
According to officials at the returning officer’s office, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Mahbubul Alam Salehi holds citizenship of both the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. Although he applied to renounce his UK citizenship, he failed to submit documentary proof of any decision in this regard. As his dual citizenship remains valid, the returning officer suspended his nomination.
In the same constituency, the returning officer also declared the nomination of Abdul Khalek, BNP Rangpur divisional assistant organising secretary, invalid.
Khalek submitted signatures of voters amounting to one per cent of the total electorate of the constituency, as required for an independent candidate. However, discrepancies were found during verification.
In a random check of 10 voters, the signatures of three voters were initially found to be forged. On this ground, his nomination was declared invalid.
Abu Bakkar Siddique said the returning officer suspended the Jamaat candidate’s nomination due to dual citizenship.
He added that Mahbubul Alam Salehi has been given time until Friday afternoon to submit proper documentary proof of renouncing his UK citizenship. He also confirmed that Abdul Khalek’s nomination was declared invalid after voter signatures were found to be forged.
Attempts were made to contact Abdul Khalek for comment on the allegations of forged signatures, but he did not answer his phone.
Scrutiny of nomination papers in Kurigram’s four parliamentary constituencies entered its second day on Friday.
Scrutiny for Kurigram-3 and Kurigram-4 (Chilmari, Roumari and Char Rajibpur) constituencies took place on the day. Scrutiny for Kurigram-3 concluded in the morning, while scrutiny for Kurigram-4 was scheduled for the Friday afternoon.
Earlier, on Thursday, scrutiny of nomination papers for Kurigram-1 and Kurigram-2 constituencies was completed. In Kurigram-2, the returning officer declared the nominations of Jatiya Party candidate and former MP Panir Uddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh National Party candidate Atikur Rahman, invalid. Both candidates will have the opportunity to appeal.
