Dhaka – Dr Tasnima Zara, former senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 parliamentary constituency, has had her nomination annulled. The announcement was made on Saturday, 3 December, at around 11:30 a.m. by the Returning Officer of Dhaka District.
Speaking on the matter, Dr Zara stated that she intends to appeal the decision and confirmed that the appeal process has already been initiated.
According to the Election Commission, the cancellation was due to alleged discrepancies in the nomination documents. For independent candidates, the rules require signatures from at least 1% of the registered voters in the constituency. Dr Zara, however, submitted approximately 200 more signatures than the required number. The Election Commission reportedly verified the information of ten signatories, of which eight were confirmed as valid voters of Dhaka-9. The remaining two were found to be registered voters, but outside the Dhaka-9 constituency. Their official addresses were in Khilgaon, a locality partially overlapping with another parliamentary seat.
Dr Zara has criticised the Commission’s decision, arguing that the two individuals had no feasible way of knowing that they were not eligible Dhaka-9 voters. She said, “They signed knowing they were Dhaka-9 voters. There was no accessible public source to confirm this, and the voter ID copies they possessed indicated Dhaka-9 registration. Yet the Election Commission claims otherwise.”
This announcement comes shortly after Dr Zara resigned from the NCP on 27 December, where she served as the party’s senior joint secretary. In a Facebook post on the same day, she declared her intention to contest the election as an independent candidate rather than representing any specific party or alliance.
Key Details of the Nomination Issue:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Dr Tasnima Zara |
| Constituency | Dhaka-9 |
| Party Affiliation | Independent (Former NCP Leader) |
| Nomination Cancelled Date | 3 December |
| Reason Given by Election Commission | Discrepancy in voter signatures |
| Signatures Submitted | Required: 1% of voters; Submitted: +200 more |
| Signatures Verified | Total checked: 10; Valid: 8; Disputed: 2 |
| Official Addresses of Disputed Voters | Khilgaon (part of Dhaka-10) |
| Action Taken by Candidate | Appeal initiated |
Dr Zara’s case highlights the procedural complexities faced by independent candidates in Dhaka-9 and raises questions about voter verification processes in overlapping jurisdictions. Observers suggest that the upcoming appeal could set an important precedent for future independent candidacies.