Legal notice sent to CEC seeking disqualification of 12th election candidates

The group says it will move the court or take to the streets if its demand is ignored

The Students Against Discrimination has served a legal notice on the chief election commissioner (CEC), calling for all candidates of the 12th parliamentary election to be declared ineligible for the February vote.

On Wednesday, the organisation’s leaders met CEC AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka to submit the notice.

A seven-strong delegation, led by its President Rifat Rashid, handed over the notice and later told the media: “Those who were ‘dummy’ candidates in the 12th election must be disqualified this time. We have given a legal notice. This is a preliminary step.

“Otherwise, we will go to court. Our demand will continue on the streets.”

He also said the group would meet the commission probing irregularities in the 2014, 2018, 2024 elections, demanding for the report to be submitted quickly.

Referring to the last three national polls, delegation member Hasib Al Imran said concerns had been raised to ensure that those who took part in the 2024 election as dummy candidates are barred from contesting the 2026 vote.

“If needed, we will launch a strong street movement,” he added.

The parliamentary polls are scheduled for Feb 12.