EC rejects nomination of Jatiya Party’s Howlader, barring the MP from running in the election

The Election Commission has rejected the review petition filed by former Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader over his nomination for the Patuakhali-1 parliamentary race, the constituency where he is the sitting MP.

As a result of the commission’s decision on Friday, Howlader will not be able to run for the seat in the Dec 30 polls.

The Patuakhali returning officer had rejected Howlader’s initial application for the election on Dec 2 due to outstanding loans. The next day Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad removed him from the post of secretary general.

Several Jatiya Party leaders have alleged that Howlader was selling the party’s nomination for the coming polls for exorbitant prices. Howlader claimed the allegations are attempts to smear him.

He appealed the returning officer’s decision on Tuesday.

But the Election Commission rejected his review petition on Friday.

“My client has not a loan defaulter,” said Howlader’s layer Baset Majumdar. “We will take the matter to the higher court for justice.”

The EC began hearing the second day of reviews at its headquarters around 10am on Friday. Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and Election Commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury are deciding on the reviews.

Of the 543 nominations up for appeal, the EC is hearing No. 161 through No. 310 today.

The EC heard 160 reviews on Thursday and restored the nominations of 80. The election officials will complete the hearings on the reviews on Saturday.