The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has barred two prominent BNP candidates from contesting the upcoming 13th national election in Cumilla, while providing a temporary reprieve for another.
In a ruling delivered today (1 February), a full bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury disqualified Manzurul Ahsan Munshi and Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan from the race. However, the court has allowed Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan to continue his campaign for the time being.
Disqualifications in Cumilla-4 and Cumilla-10
The court’s decision has significantly altered the electoral landscape in two key constituencies:
- Manzurul Ahsan Munshi (Cumilla-4): His candidacy was cancelled over allegations of concealing information related to loan defaults. Although a returning officer initially cleared him, the Election Commission (EC) scrapped his nomination following an appeal by Hasnat Abdullah, a candidate from the National Citizen Party (NCP). The Supreme Court’s dismissal of his leave to appeal effectively ends his bid for this election.
- Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan (Cumilla-10): The BNP leader was disqualified due to allegations regarding his dual citizenship (US citizenship). The EC had earlier annulled his nomination on 18 January, and today’s ruling confirms he remains ineligible to run.
Conditional Clearance for Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan
In a notable twist for the Cumilla-10 (Nangalkot) seat, the Appellate Division has permitted Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan to contest the polls using the BNP’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy.
The EC had previously cancelled his nomination over loan default allegations, but a High Court stay on 25 January allowed him to remain in the race. While the Supreme Court today accepted a leave to appeal filed by rival candidate Hasan Ahmed of the Bangladesh Congress Party, it did not stop Mobasher from running.
“There is no bar to my client’s participation in the election, but the final result will depend on the outcome of the appeal,” said Jyotirmoy Barua, counsel for Mobasher Alam.
His election results will be held subject to the final verdict of the ongoing appeal.
Political Implications
The disqualifications leave the BNP with a narrowed field in Cumilla, a traditional stronghold for the party. With the 13th national election scheduled for 12 February 2026, the legal battles surrounding candidate eligibility continue to heighten the political tension across the country.
Would you like me to draft a follow-up analysis on how these disqualifications might impact the BNP’s overall strategy in the Chattogram Division?
