The Election Commission (EC) will see till this evening whether any information comes from the court regarding Monira Sharmin, the nominee of the 11-party alliance and joint convener of the NCP, in the reserved seat for women. If there is no information about him within this period, then the EC will publish the gazette declaring another candidate of the alliance, NCP joint convener Nusrat Tabassum as the winner.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud told the media workers this information at his office in the election building of Agargaon in the capital on Monday.
The Jamaat alliance nominated Monira Sharmin for the reserved seat for women in the 13th National Assembly. But the returning officer canceled his nomination as per the law as he was not three years after leaving the state-owned agricultural bank. Later he appealed to the EC. Even there the decision of the Returning Officer stands. Later, Monira Sharmin appealed to the High Court against the decision of the EC. However, the High Court has not given any decision regarding him yet.
Earlier on April 21, Nusrat Tabassum submitted his nomination after the deadline of 4 pm (19 minutes later). But the returning officer did not accept it. Later EC accepted Nusrat’s nomination after receiving instructions from the High Court. Nusrat’s nomination was declared valid after scrutiny. In the meantime, the EC declared him a valid candidate. Now his gazette is yet to be published.
Meanwhile, Monira Sharmin gave a letter to the EC on Sunday. Where he requested that the other candidate for the women’s seat should not be gazetted until the case filed by him is heard.
When asked about this, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machoud said, ‘We have not received any information from the court so far. Monira Sharmin’s letter does not matter. We will wait until today (Monday) evening. If there is no information about her then we will publish the gazette in the name of Nusrat Tabassum.’
He also said, ‘Monira Sharmin did not mention any cause list in the letter. He did not say when the hearing will be held, whether it will be today or tomorrow. So how long can we wait? Still we will see till evening. Then I will decide.’
When asked what the EC will decide if the court issues an order regarding Monira after publication of the gazette, Rahmanel Machoud said, ‘If Monira Sharmin can bring a court order then we will see it. We will not appeal against the order. If he brings orders, we will carry him out. But he didn’t come until yesterday, he didn’t come until today. So if you don’t come by the evening, we will make an announcement.’
