EC restores nomination of Oikya Front’s Reza Kibria

The Election Commission has restored the nomination of Habiganj-1 Gono Forum pick Reza Kibria.

The son of Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria will now contest the Dec 30 polls with the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol.

On Dec 2 the returning officer had dismissed Reza Kibria’s application because he had ‘unpaid loans’.

According to the returning officer, the decision had been made based on information from Citibank’s Credit Card Division and Dhaka Bank.

Reza Kibria appealed the decision with the Election Commission. The commission then approved the nomination of the candidate from the Kamal Hossain-led Gono Forum.

Reza Kibria told reporters after the hearing that he had been accused of having unpaid credit card debt, but that he had never used a credit card and so had no dues.

“I have received justice,” he said in response to a question. “I hope everyone will get justice.”

Asked whether the restoration of his nomination had strengthened his faith in the Election Commission he said:

“I will be able to answer the question the day after the election.”

Reza Kibria’s father Shah AMS Kibria had served as Sheikh Hasina’s finance minister from 1996 to 2001. The former UN official became a topic of discussion after he declared that he would join the Gono Forum and its Oikya Front alliance with the BNP.

Reza Kibria's father had been elected as the MP from the Habiganj-1 seat in 2001 and was killed in a grenade attack in Habiganj in 2005.

Though his father was in the Awami League Reza said about his nomination:

“My father was in the Awami League, but I have never been involved with them. And the Awami League has been unable to bring my father’s murderers to justice in the past 14 years.”