Women’s reserve seats EC upholds decision rejecting nomination of NCP’s Monira Sharmin

“Now I will appeal to the High Court,” says Monira

The Election Commission has upheld the decision of the returning officer to cancel the candidacy of NCP’s Monira Sharmin for a reserved women’s seat in parliament as three years have not yet passed since her resignation from government service.

Monira has said she will now go to the High Court to regain her candidacy.

She had submitted her nomination paper for a reserved women’s seat in the 13th Parliament, but it was rejected during scrutiny by the returning officer.

The NCP member then appealed to the Election Commission to restore her candidacy. The appeal hearing was held on Monday, presided by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.

Asked about the decision, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said: “Monira Sharmin’s appeal has been rejected. Her nomination remains cancelled.”

Monira said, “Now I will appeal to the High Court.”

Meanwhile, BNP leader Masud Mridha, a member of the party’s international subcommittee, also petitioned to scrap of the candidacy of BNP nominee Jeba Amina Khan on allegations of dual citizenship. Another application was filed by Chandra Chakma from Bandarban seeking the cancellation of BNP candidate Madhabi Marma’s candidacy.

EC Abdur Rahmanel said, “The appeal against Jeba Amina Khan was not valid. Since the petitioner was not a candidate, the appeal was dismissed. We did not receive any appeal against Madhabi Marma.”

An EC official said that the application against Madhabi Marma was not registered because it was submitted to the dispatch section instead of the legal wing or the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, BNP lawyers have said they will also go to the High Court regarding these two candidates.

For the 13th Parliament’s 50 reserved women’s seats, nomination papers of 49 candidates have been declared valid by the returning officer.

Among the valid candidates, 36 belong to the BNP-led alliance, 12 to the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, and one is from an independent alliance.

When the withdrawal deadline passes, they are likely to be elected unopposed.

According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, appeals will be disposed of on Apr 27 and 28. Withdrawal of candidacies is on Apr 29, symbol allocation on Apr 30, and voting will be held on May 12.

Candidates for reserved women’s seats are usually elected unopposed.