United News of Bangladesh

A total of 54 nomination papers were submitted against 50 reserved seats for women in Parliament, exceeding the number of seats by four. According to officials, 53 nomination papers were submitted within the stipulated deadline of 4:00 pm on Tuesday. Of them, 36 candidates were nominated by the BNP-led alliance, 13 by the Jamaat-led alliance, and one from an independent alliance. Besides, three more candidates—Shamma Akter, Mosammat Mehrunnessa and Mahbuba Rahman—submitted nomination papers independently outside any party or alliance. Their eligibility will be reviewed during scrutiny. Claims of 21.4% fake votes misleading: TIB Another nomination paper was submitted by NCP Joint Convener Nusrat Tabassum after the deadline, as NCP nominated Monira Sharmin may face legal challenge over the validity of her candidacy. The Election Commission (EC) had announced the schedule for the reserved women’s seats on April 8, setting April 21 as the deadline for nomination submission. Returning Officer Md Moin Uddin Khan said they received 36 nomination papers from BNP and its allies, 13 from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, and one from an independent alliance candidate, Sultana Jesmin. He said the submitted nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 22 and 23. Appeals against the scrutiny decisions can be filed with the commission on April 26, while disposal of appeals will take place on April 27 and 28. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is April 29. Usually, elections for reserved seats do not require voting as political parties and alliances nominate candidates equal to the number of seats. However, this time the number of nomination papers exceeded the available seats. The returning officer said the late submission by Nusrat Tabassum would not be considered, while the nominations submitted outside alliances would also be examined for legal validity during scrutiny. Earlier in the day, a team of the Jamaat-led alliance, led by its Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad went to the EC Secretariat during the submission of nomination papers by their candidates. Speaking to reporters, Hamidur Rahman Azad expressed hope that their alliance candidates would be elected unopposed based on the submitted list. “We have submitted a combined list, and there is no scope for competing candidates. We expect all 13 candidates to be elected unopposed,” he said. BNP nominees also submitted their nomination papers separately, many accompanied by party leaders and activists. After submission, BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman said the party’s nominated candidates for the reserved seats would work towards strengthening democracy. “There is a combination of experienced and new faces. We hope they will play an effective role in Parliament,” she said, adding that the current Parliament, formed after 17 years, would contribute to democratic transition and national development. Questions over Monira Sharmin’s candidacy: Questions have been raised over the candidacy of NCP nominee Monira Sharmin, who submitted her nomination under the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance. It is alleged that she applied for nomination just five months after retiring from a government job, while the law requires a gap of three years before contesting parliamentary elections after leaving a government position. Sources said that anticipating possible cancellation of her candidacy under this provision, the party arranged for Nusrat Tabassum to submit a nomination as an alternative, although it was filed after the deadline. EC sources said that if any nomination is cancelled, the respective seat will be opened for all parties, and a fresh schedule will be announced. Political parties and alliances will then be able to nominate candidates anew, and the member for that seat will be elected through votes of MPs.