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Published : 03 Jan 2026, 07:34 PM
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of the Nagorik Oikko, has alleged that valid nominations are being cancelled “by force and by creating mobs”.
He made the complaint on Saturday evening after leaving the returning officer’s office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
The Nagorik Oikko chief submitted nomination papers for the Dhaka-18 and Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituencies.
His nomination in the Bogura constituency has been cancelled.
“I contested in three to four previous elections, but have never seen things getting this difficult. And this is why I sincerely thank the Election Commission, which has declared my nomination valid today,” said Manna.
He said the EC officials performing their duty properly can play a vital role in ensuring a fair and credible election.
BNP-alliance candidate Manna said a credible election is impossible if the Election Commission comes under pressure.
Manna is among 17 people who filed nominations for the Dhaka-18 seat, which covers Dhaka North City Corporation’s wards 1, 17, and 43 to 54, as well as the airport area.
Describing the nomination scrutiny process in Bogura, Manna said: “The way candidates were being selected there, it was like a mobocracy.”
He said a dozen lawyers appeared for one of the candidates in his Bogura seat, including several lawyers from the Supreme Court.
“Even the assistant attorney general was among them,” Manna alleged.
He said he could not exaggerate the number of people in the crowd that appeared in favour of the candidate during the scrutiny.
“They spoke as they wished, as forcefully as possible. Those who were presenting arguments on my behalf were rebuked. They were sitting next to the DC, and it seemed like they were exercising authority, issuing orders,” he said.
He wondered why the BNP nominated a candidate in a seat shared among its allies. He said he was given the seat to contest in the parliamentary polls on behalf of the alliance comprising partners who stayed close in movements over the last 15 years. The BNP-nominated candidate said matters relating to cases against him were resolved at the court.
Manna’s candidacy faced challenges over loan default. He had applied to the High Court to remove his name from the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) defaulter list, but the petition was dismissed.
He then approached the Appellate Division’s Chamber Court against that order and, along with his lawyer, applied to reschedule the loan and remove his name from the CIB list.
The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed the High Court’s order.
He said his Bogura nomination was cancelled over “ridiculous and trivial” matters.
Manna said it is not the EC’s job to disqualify candidates. Rather, their role is to allow candidates to participate by giving them a chance to correct mistakes or omissions.
He said he would appeal the decision to cancel his Bogura nomination.
