Jamaat alleges arbitrary rejection of nominations
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday alleged that the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election has been marred by what it described as arbitrary and excessive actions by some returning officers, and urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to intervene.
In a statement issued on January 4, Jamaat Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar claimed that nomination papers of several party candidates had been rejected in a number of districts on what he termed “trivial and legally insignificant grounds,” despite the submission of all required information and supporting documents.
He called on the CEC to take immediate measures to prevent nomination papers from being cancelled over “minor and insignificant” issues and urged the Election Commission to reinstate the candidatures of those disqualified on such grounds.
“While scrutiny of nomination papers is underway nationwide, contradictory and questionable practices are being observed in the conduct of certain returning officers,” Porwar said in the statement.
The Jamaat leader alleged that in some cases returning officers adopted rigid interpretations of the law where reasonable discretion could have been exercised, leading to the rejection of otherwise eligible candidates. He said it was inappropriate to cancel candidatures after candidates had submitted all necessary information, evidence and documents.
According to the statement, many of the rejected nominations were based on issues that “hold no legal importance.” The party further alleged that such actions were being carried out “at the instigation of certain quarters,” without providing specific details.
Warning of broader implications, Golam Porwar said that the continuation of what he described as arbitrary disqualifications would raise serious concerns about the prospects of holding a free, fair and transparent election.
He also appealed to the Election Commission and returning officers to ensure a level playing field by guaranteeing equal opportunities for all candidates in the electoral process.
The Election Commission has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.