Manna regains candidacy validity

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya and the party's nominated candidate for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency, valid for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. 

Reacting to the decision, he said that the conspiracy behind the cancellation of his nomination ultimately failed. “First of all, I offer thanks to Allah. I believed that this conspiracy would not stand,” he said.

Manna said the purpose of scrutinising candidacies is not to exclude anyone, but to provide an opportunity to correct any errors that may be found. According to the law, if there are defects in a nomination paper, there is a provision for immediate correction or time to rectify them. Even if there are mistakes in an affidavit, the law allows submission of a supplementary affidavit.

He said, “I have contested elections from Bogura before, and I am doing so again this time. Yet the tactics used to oppose me carry very ominous signals. To manage the situation, the district administration sent the matter to the Election Commission. Otherwise, there was no reason to cancel my nomination.”

Manna added, “When incidents occur that mock the democracy for which we have struggled with blood and lives, there is nothing left to do but express sorrow. Such acts, undertaken for the sake of power, can never be the path of democracy. No matter how big a party or an individual may be, everyone is small before the collective. Without this mindset, democracy cannot function.”

Regarding allegations related to bank loans, he said the claim that he was a defaulter was completely false. 

“A fake notice was created through an official of Islami Bank’s Bogura Barogola branch. After the matter came to light, the official contacted the bank’s head office. Subsequently, that bank official was punished through a stand release and transfer. However, this information did not appear in the media,” he said.

Without naming his rivals, he said political competition is natural. “But trying to defeat someone by striking below the belt is not politics. You cannot win through conspiracy. If the struggle for democracy is sustained, conspiracies do not last. Today’s verdict is proof of that.”

Expressing satisfaction with the role of the Election Commission, Manna said the Commission has taken a position in favour of inclusive politics. 

“The mindset of achieving victory by excluding opponents stifles democracy.” He also said he has concerns about the role of the administration. “The police have not been playing an active or proactive role so far. In many places, silence is noticeable.”

On BNP’s support, he said their nominated candidate has not yet withdrawn his nomination. “But I hope that, since I was officially announced, withdrawing the nomination would be the natural course of action,” he added.