The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday declared the nomination of Tasnim Jara valid for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election. Tasnim Jara, a prominent physician and former political leader, is contesting as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-9 constituency.
The decision came following an appeal hearing at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon. Her candidacy had previously been canceled by the returning officer during the initial scrutiny phase on January 3.
Overcoming Procedural Hurdles
The initial rejection of her nomination was based on a technicality regarding the signatures of one percent of the total voters required for independent candidates. Returning Officer Md. Azmol Hossain (Additional Divisional Commissioner, Revenue) had stated that while the required 4,300 signatures were submitted, two of the ten sampled supporters were found not to be registered voters of the Dhaka-9 constituency.
Following the EC’s favorable decision today, Tasnim Jara expressed her gratitude to the commission and her supporters.
“Our appeal has been granted, and my candidacy as an independent for Dhaka-9 is now official,” she told reporters. “The past week has been a unique experience. I received countless prayers and well-wishes from people both at home and abroad. Many shared their frustrations when the nomination was initially canceled, and I thank everyone who stood by me in this struggle.”
Independent Run and Symbol Request
Tasnim Jara also informed the media that she has applied for the ‘Football’ symbol for her campaign. The final allocation of symbols will be determined by the Election Commission at a later date.
A former Senior Joint Member Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Tasnim Jara resigned from her party post in late December 2025. Her departure followed internal disagreements regarding the NCP’s decision to form an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami and other like-minded parties. Choosing to distance herself from the alliance, she decided to run independently to maintain her political stance.
EC Appeal Hearings Continue
The Election Commission began hearing appeals against the decisions of returning officers today, starting with the first 70 cases. The process is scheduled to continue until January 18:
- Sunday (Jan 11): Appeals 71 to 140
- Monday (Jan 12): Appeals 141 to 210
- Tuesday (Jan 13): Appeals 211 to 280
A total of 645 appeals were filed with the EC between January 5 and January 9. The 13th National Parliament Election is scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026, under the supervision of the interim government.
