The nomination papers of Ashraful Alom, best known as Hero Alom, and seven others for next month's Dhaka-17 by-election have been rejected.
The Election Commission had made the decision as they could not meet the necessary conditions to contest the election, Returning Officer Md Munir Hossain Khan confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
The commission rejected the nomination papers of eight people and declared valid the forms of seven candidates.
Those who will be able to contest the election are the Awami League's Mohammad A Arafat, Jatiya Party's Sikder Anisur Rahman, Bangladesh Congress' Rezaul Islam Swapan, Ganatantri Party's Md Kamrul Islam (nominated by party chair), the same party's Ashok Kumar Dhar (nominated by party secretary general), Bangladesh Shangskritik Muktijot's Md Akter Hossain and Trinamool BNP's Sheikh Habibur Rahman.
Meanwhile, the Zaker Party's Kazi Md Rashidul Hasan, Jatya Party's Md Mamunur Rashid (chief patron Raushan Ershad's follower), Bangladesh Nationalist Front's Md Mojibur Rahman, and independent candidates Md Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan, Abu Azam Khan, Musaur Rahman Khan and Sheikh Asaduzzaman Jalal's nomination papers were also rejected.
The returning officer said they would be able to file an appeal against the rejection with the Election Commission.
Soon after the announcement, Hero Alom told the media that he would challenge the decision to cancel his candidacy.
"My nomination was rejected due to complications with the signatures of voters and supporters," he said.
An Election Commission official told Dhaka Tribune that a candidate needed to names and signatures of 1% of voters of a constituency to participate in an election, which Hero Alom had been unable to collect.
Hero Alom later refuted the claim saying his voters had been with him and that the returning officer had not looked into the matter properly.
"My candidature has been cancelled every time I have tried to contest an election. I do not know why this happens every time. I do not know if candidates are afraid of running for office against me. If they are not afraid of my popularity, why am I being harassed repeatedly?"
