Independent candidate of Dhaka-9 constituency, Tasnim Jara. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS)- Nomination paper of independent candidate Tasnim Jara from Dhaka-9 constituency has been cancelled due to discrepancies in the address of two supporting electorates submitted in support of her candidature.

Returning Officer of Dhaka announced it after scrutiny of the nomination papers at the office of the Divisional Commissioner in Segunbagicha this morning. 

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury cited irregularities related to the verification of voter signatures submitted in support of the candidature.

However, Tasnim Jara, a former senior leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said she would appeal against the decision and has already initiated the process.

“I was informed my nomination paper as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9 has not been accepted at this stage. We will file an appeal, and the process has already begun,” she told reporters. 

Explaining the grounds cited by the Election Commission, Tasnim Jara said independent candidates are required under electoral rules to submit signatures of at least one percent of the total voters of the constituency.

“We submitted more signatures than required—nearly 200 extra. From those, the authorities randomly selected 10 signatures for verification,” she said.

According to her account, eight of the selected voters were found to have correct information, while issues were raised regarding the remaining two.

“In the case of the two individuals, their signatures were verified, but they were found not to be voters of Dhaka-9,” she said. 

“However, neither of them was aware of this discrepancy,” she said elaborating that one of the individuals resides in Khilgaon, an area that partly falls under both Dhaka-9 and Dhaka-11 constituencies.

“He believed he was a voter of Dhaka-9 based on his National Identity Card (NID). He even checked the website but could not find his voter number. Based on his NID information, he signed the form in good faith,” she added.

Regarding the other individual, Tasnim Jara said the address on the hard copy of the NID also mentioned his address in the area under Dhaka-9 constituency, although Election Commission records showed otherwise as per latest demarcation. 

“That individual also had no way of knowing that the official records list him outside Dhaka-9,” she added.

Tasnim Jara expressed hope that the two matters would be taken into consideration during the appeal hearing.

It may be mentioned that Tasnim Jara previously served as senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP). Initially she expected to contest the election under the party banner, but later announced her decision to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.