Comilla, Jan 17 (V7N) — The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi for the Comilla-4 constituency as void, citing loan default as the reason.

The decision came after the EC heard an appeal filed by NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah challenging the Returning Officer’s earlier declaration of Munshi’s nomination as valid.

Hasnat Abdullah had previously appealed for the cancellation of Munshi’s nomination on the grounds of defaulting on loans. Following this, Munshi also filed an appeal seeking to cancel Abdullah’s candidacy, but the EC rejected his application.

Meanwhile, the matter had also reached the High Court, which initially suspended Munshi’s name from the list of loan defaulters. The order was issued by a bench led by Justice AKM Rabiul Hasan. The Premier Bank later applied for a stay of this High Court order, which was granted by the Chamber Court on January 8. Munshi then applied for withdrawal of this stay, and the Chamber Court subsequently upheld the suspension of the High Court order.

In its January 14 order, the High Court directed that Munshi’s name be suspended from the defaulters’ list and instructed the court to resolve the rule issued by the High Court within two weeks.

With the EC’s latest decision, Munshi is now barred from contesting in the Comilla-4 constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections.

END/SMA/AJ