Anisul Islam Mahmud. File Photo

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS) - The nominations of 11 candidates, including Jatiya Party (factional) President Anisul Islam Mahmud, in Chattogram have been cancelled following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The nomination of Anisul Islam Mahmud, a parliamentary candidate for the Chattogram-5 constituency, was cancelled due to a mismatch between the signatures on the party's nomination papers and those submitted earlier to the Election Commission.

The decision was taken by the Returning Officer and Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Md Ziauddin. Executive Magistrate Hedayet Ullah from the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office said the signature submitted by Anisul Islam Mahmud did not match the party's nomination list on record with the Election Commission.

In Chattogram-5 constituency, which includes Hathazari upazila and part of Chattogram city, the nominations of four candidates were cancelled. Besides Anisul Islam Mahmud, the cancelled candidates are former BNP central committee deputy treasurer SM Fazlul Haque, Barrister Shakila Farzana, daughter of former whip Wahidul Alam and Mohammad Imam Uddin Riyad.

Fazlul Haque and Shakila Farzana submitted nomination papers as independent candidates. However, during verification of signatures of one percent of voters through the double-selection process, discrepancies were found, leading to the cancellation of their nominations. 

The affected candidates have the right to appeal.

The valid candidates in this constituency are Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin of BNP, Maulana Rafiqul Islam of Islamic Front Bangladesh, Maulana Nasir Uddin Munir of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Maulana Motiullah Noori of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Modiullah Noori of Bangladesh Labour Party and Alauddin and Syed Mokhtar Ahmed of Bangladesh Islamic Front.

In Chattogram-7 (Rangunia) constituency, the nominations of three candidates were cancelled. Abdur Rahman of the AB Party had his nomination cancelled due to the absence of a proposer's signature, income tax information and incomplete submission of party nomination and pledge documents. The nomination of Belal Uddin was also cancelled.

Additionally, Pramod Baran Barua, candidate of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, had his nomination cancelled due to an incorrect party nomination.

The valid candidates for this seat are Humam Quader Chowdhury of BNP, ATM Rezaul Karim of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Muhammad Iqbal Hasan of Bangladesh Islamic Front, Abdullah Al Harun of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Abul Kalam of Jatiya Party.

In Chattogram-12 (Patiya) constituency, the nominations of four candidates were cancelled. M Yakub Ali of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Sirajul Islam Chowdhury of Jatiya Party lost their nominations due to errors in the party nomination process.

The nominations of independent candidates Syed Sadat Ahmed and Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain were also cancelled after the verification of one percent of voters through the dual selection process failed to confirm their authenticity.

The valid candidates for this constituency are Mohammad Enamul Haque of BNP, Mohammad Faridul Alam of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, SM Belal Noor of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Farid Ahmad Chowdhury of Jatiya Party, Mohammad Abu Taleb Helali of Insaniat Biplab, Sayed Air Mohammad Payaru of Bangladesh Islamic Front and Emdadul Hasan of Public Rights Parishad.