The standard set by the Election Commission for checking candidacy-seekers’ legitimacy has once again stirred confusion, after a Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader’s candidature, based on identical nomination papers, was accepted and rejected in two different constituencies.
On December 2, a returning officer in Dhaka rejected ASM Abdur Rab-led JSD candidate Shahid Uddin Mahmud’s nomination papers due to his status as a loan defaulter. However, on the very same day, his application was considered valid for the Feni 3 constituency by the returning officer of the district.
Regarding the matter, Election Commission Secretariat Joint Secretary (Law) Selim Mia said the commission will review both circumstances and will make a proper judgment after further scrutiny.
Election Commission officials conceded that even if the applications have some inconsistencies, the matter of the loan default should not have created any confusion in the mind of the returning officer concerned.
Meanwhile, JSD leader Shahid claimed that he is not a loan defaulter, and said he has already appealed to the commission in the hopes of getting a fair judgement.