Appeal rejected: BNP's Manjurul Ahsan barred from contesting Hasnat Abdullah in Cumilla-4
Hasnat Abdullah had earlier filed an application with the Election Commission (EC), alleging that Munshi was a loan defaulter. Acting on the complaint, the EC cancelled Munshi’s nomination on 17 January
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has rejected a leave-to-appeal filed by BNP-nominated candidate Engineer Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, effectively barring him from contesting the upcoming election in the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency.
As a result of the ruling, Munshi will not be able to run against National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Hasnat Abdullah in the seat.
The order was passed today (1 February) by a bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury.
Hasnat Abdullah had earlier filed an application with the Election Commission (EC), alleging that Munshi was a loan defaulter. Acting on the complaint, the EC cancelled Munshi's nomination on 17 January.
Seeking to regain his candidature, Munshi challenged the EC's decision in the High Court through a writ petition. On 21 January, the High Court summarily dismissed the petition. Munshi subsequently moved to the Appellate Division, but his leave to appeal was also dismissed today, bringing the legal battle to an end.
