The nomination paper of Awami League candidate for Cox's Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency, Salahuddin Ahmed, has been rejected due to a loan default.

District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Shahin Imran rejected Salahuddin’s nomination form around 10am on Sunday. 

According to the district returning officer's office, his nomination was cancelled due to his defaulting on a Tk47 crore loan.

Salahuddin Ahmed and other directors of “Fish Preservers” secured a loan of approximately Tk 50 crore from the Laldighi branch of Janata Bank in Cox's Bazar, using the company as collateral. The loan was later defaulted on.

Despite subsequent changes in the company's board of directors, Salahuddin remains a guarantor for the loan as per the bank's terms.

According to the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report of the Bangladesh Bank, Salahuddin was a loan defaulter on the day of nomination submission on 30 November, which made his nomination invalid according to the law.

While speaking to journalists in this regard, Salahuddin said, "Everything regarding the defaulted loan was resolved through the court. I still do not understand why my nomination was rejected. I will appeal to the Election Commission in this regard.”