The nomination papers for Dr. Tasneem Zara, an independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 constituency, were cancelled on Saturday. Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Rezaul Karim announced the decision during the verification process.
In response, Dr. Zara stated she would appeal the decision to the Election Commission.
The cancellation reportedly stems from discrepancies regarding the supporters required for independent nominations. Dr. Zara explained that she relied on National ID (NID) hard copies to verify that her supporters were registered voters in the Dhaka-9 seat. However, the Election Commission's database indicated that at least one individual was not a registered voter in that specific constituency.
Dr. Zara noted that while the physical addresses provided by the supporters suggested they belonged to Dhaka-9, she had no way of knowing the Commission’s digital records differed.
On December 27, Dr. Zara announced her candidacy via Facebook after resigning from the National Citizens' Party (NCP). She cited the NCP’s electoral agreement with Jamaat-e-Islami as the primary reason for her departure and her decision to run as an independent.
The appeal process with the Election Commission will determine if she remains eligible for the upcoming vote.
