Gazipur City Polls: RO cancels Zahangir’s nomination
The nomination papers of Mohammad Zahangir, the suspended mayor and an aspirant in the upcoming Gazipur city polls, have been cancelled.
Md Faridul Islam, the returning officer, announced the Election Commission's decision in a press conference, saying Zahangir is a loan defaulter.
"We have information from Bangladesh Bank's Credit Information Bureau (CIB) that he [Zahangir] became a loan defaulter as a guarantor," he said.
Zahangir said he will appeal to the EC against the scrapping of his candidature.
The decision comes after the nomination papers of the candidates were scrutinised at the Returning Officer's office yesterday.
After verification, the returning officer announced the cancellation of the nomination papers of three mayoral candidates including Zahangir.
The other two are independent candidates Oliur Rahman and Abul Hossen.
On April 27, Zahangir's supporters submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate.
He also submitted nomination papers for his mother, Zaida Khatun, who too would be running for the mayor post.
The returning officer, however, declared Zaida's nomination valid.
Zahangir, who was present at the press conference in the city's Bongo Taj Auditorium, however, refuted the allegations against him and accused the returning officer of bias.
"I have been treated unfairly. The bank authorities have given written and verbal statements regarding the payment of installments to the bank's creditors. Still, what you have done was a biased act," he told the returning officer.
Speaking to the journalists, he said he will appeal to the EC against the decision.
"The Election Commission has moved away from its neutral stance. I do not know under which invisible pressure they did it," he said.
"I want justice. If required, I will move the High Court and Supreme Court," he said, alleging that the decision was undemocratic.
Zahangir claimed that all the documents were submitted to the EC through the lawyer and bank authorities, but the EC cancelled his nomination papers, citing CID.
"I mortgaged my own land for humanitarian reasons to save an industrial establishment. I didn't take the money myself and the company is paying the loan."
Meanwhile, the EC said it will issue a show-cause notice to Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Azmat Ullah Khan for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct.
"It has been decided to issue a show-cause notice to Azmat Ullah Khan. An explanation will be sought from him and he will be asked to come to the commission and explain the matter," EC Md Alamgir told the journalists.
The EC alleged that Azmat Ullah Khan, also the president of Gazipur city AL, violated the electoral code of conduct while submitting his nomination papers on Thursday.
Violating the rules, at least 10 leaders and activists accompanied Azmat Ullah Khan from the main entrance to the office of the returning officer. Many leaders and activists were rallying on the road at that time.
The Gazipur City Corporation election will be held on May 25. The deadline for withdrawing candidacy is May 8.
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