A Correspondent:
Chattogram: Returning Officers (RO) of Chattogram division and district yesterday cancelled the nomi-nation papers of 12 parliament member candidates from five constituencies due for showing fake voters with nomination papers.
RO Abul Bashar Md Fakruzzaman who is also the deputy commissioner (DC) of Chattogram cancelled their nomination papers of Chattogram-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 constituencies during the scrutiny for various reasons including wrong information, fake signatures of voters provided in the documents attached with the nomination papers and failed to submit tax return copy and certificates etc.
Those whose nomination papers were cancelled are-independent candidates Mohammad Gias Uddin of Chattogram-1 constituency, Golam Nowsher Ali, Mohammad Shahjahan, Riaz Uddin in Chattogram-2 constituency. List of one percent voters which were submitted with nominations papers was not correct.
The Returning Officer also canceled the nomination of another two independent candidates Nizam Uddin Nasir and Amin Rasul of Chattogram-3 constituency on the same complaint.
On the other hand, nominations of four candidates of Chattogram-4 constituency Mohammad Salauddin, Mohammad Imran, Didarul Alam, Akhtar Hossain were canceled during the scrutiny held at the Divi-sional Commissioner’s office.
Apart from this, the nomination of two candidates of Chattogram-5 constituency Nasir Haider Chow-dhury and Mohammad Shahjahan, was also cancelled for various reasons.
Allegations of giving wrong information to the voters-supporters have also been found against them. After the first round of verification, the DC of Chattogram and Returning Officer Abul Bashar Moham-mad Fakhruzzaman told the reporters that the nomination papers were canceled due to inconsistencies in the list of voters’, supporters of independent candidates. Even if canceled, candidates have the right to appeal. Besides, some candidates have been given time till evening as their documents were not suffi-cient.
The other nomination papers for the rest eight constituencies in Chattogram will be scrutinized today, RO Fakuruzzaman told .
A total of 151 MP aspirants submitted nomination papers for 16 constituencies in Chattogram.
According to the announced schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from December 1-4, appeals and hearings against the returning officer’s decision will be held between December 6-15 and withdrawal of nomination papers on December 17. Symbols will be allotted on December 18. Election campaigning will continue from December 18 to January 5 at 8 am, the polling will be on January 7.
