Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Sunday regained his candidacy for the Bogura-2 constituency after the Election Commission declared his nomination paper valid following a hearing on his appeal.
The commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, accepted the appeal challenging the returning officer’s decision to cancel Manna’s nomination for Bogura-2 (Shibganj upazila).
Acting as the electoral appeal tribunal, the Election Commission heard the petition and announced its decision at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
Reacting immediately, Manna said there had been a conspiracy behind the cancellation of his nomination, but it had ultimately failed. He said he first expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah and added that he firmly believed the attempt would not succeed.
He said the purpose of scrutinising nomination papers is not to exclude candidates, but to allow them to correct errors that can be resolved instantly.
Manna said he had contested elections from Bogura in the past and was doing so again this time.
Addressing allegations of bank loan default, he said claims that he was a defaulter were completely false. He alleged that a fake notice had been created through an official of Islami Bank’s Bogura Borogola branch.
He said he contacted the bank’s head office after learning of the issue, following which disciplinary action was taken against the official through stand release and transfer, adding that the matter was not reported in the media.
Without naming any rivals, Manna said political competition is natural, but attempting to defeat opponents through unfair means is not politics, adding that victory cannot be achieved through conspiracy.
Expressing satisfaction with the Election Commission’s role, he said the commission had taken a stand in favour of inclusive politics.
He said the mentality of securing victory by excluding opponents undermines democracy.
Regarding support from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Manna said the party’s nominated candidate had not yet withdrawn the candidature, but expressed hope that the withdrawal would be natural as he had been formally announced earlier.
Manna submitted nomination papers for both Bogura-2 and Dhaka-18 for the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12.
While his nomination paper for Dhaka-18 was accepted, the nomination for Bogura-2 was initially cancelled by the returning officer on grounds of bank loan default during scrutiny.
