5 nominations suspended in Sylhet, including BNP and NCP candidates; 7 rejected

A total of 47 candidates submitted nomination papers from Sylhet's six parliamentary constituencies. 

Following scrutiny, the nomination papers of five candidates have been suspended and seven others were rejected, while the remaining nominations have been declared valid, Sylhet Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam told the media today (3 January) after completing the scrutiny process.

Suspended nominations

Among the five candidates whose nomination papers were suspended, two are nominees of the BNP. 

BNP candidate MA Malik, contesting from Sylhet-3, had his nomination suspended due to the need to verify documents related to dual citizenship. 

Malik drew attention for describing himself as "self-educated" and listing his profession as "none" in his affidavit.

Malik lived in the United Kingdom for a long period and previously served as president of BNP UK. 

He returned to Bangladesh following the political changeover on 5 August last year and was nominated by the BNP for the Sylhet-3 constituency. 

In his affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, Malik stated that he had renounced his UK citizenship but did not submit any documentary proof in support of the claim.

Another BNP candidate, Faisal Ahmed Chowdhury, contesting from Sylhet-6, also had his nomination suspended due to failure to submit income tax-related documents. 

Two BNP candidates filed nominations in Sylhet-6; while Faisal's nomination was suspended, the nomination of the party's other candidate, Imran Ahmed Chowdhury, was declared valid.

The nomination paper of Ehteshamul Haque, a candidate of the National Citizen Party (NCP) from Sylhet-1, was also suspended over complications related to dual citizenship documents. 

According to his affidavit, Ehteshamul Haque lived in the United Kingdom for a long time and renounced his UK citizenship on 22 October this year. 

Returning Officer Md Sarwar Alam said a final decision on his nomination would be announced tomorrow after verification of the relevant documents.

Besides these three, the nomination papers of Mujibur Rahman, a candidate of the Jatiyo Party in Sylhet-4, and Zahidur Rahman, a candidate of Gono Odhikar Parishad in Sylhet-6, were also suspended.

Rejected nominations

Meanwhile, the nomination paper of Abrar Ilias, an independent candidate from Sylhet-2, was rejected. 

Two members of the family of BNP leader M Ilias Ali, a victim of enforced disappearance, had submitted nomination papers from this constituency. 

While the nomination of BNP-nominated candidate Tahsina Rushdi Luna, wife of Ilias Ali, was declared valid, the nomination of their son Abrar Ilias, who contested as an independent candidate, was rejected.

The nomination paper of another independent candidate, Abdus Shahid, from Sylhet-2 was also rejected.

In Sylhet-3, the nomination papers of two independent candidates – Mostakim Raja and Mainul Bakar – were rejected due to discrepancies in information related to 1% of voters.

Nomination papers were also rejected for Saeed Ahmed of Islami Andolan Bangladesh in Sylhet-4, Saifuddin Khaled of the Jatiyo Party in Sylhet-5, and independent candidate Fakhrul Islam in Sylhet-6. 

According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will continue until tomorrow. The appeal process will begin on 5 January and continue until 11 January.