Jatiya Party candidate from the Habiganj-2 constituency (Baniachong and Ajmiriganj upazilas) Shankar Pal has withdrawn himself from the election for what he said lack of a conducive environment for election.

He came up with the announcement while talking to reporters at his constituency on Monday morning.

“Fair election environment is absent here. There is an influence of muscle power of the ruling party [Awami League]. It is difficult to protect the lives of mine and supporters amid violence taking place in different parts of the country. So I refrained from campaigning in Baniachong-Ajmiriganj,” he said.

He said he is not the person who seeks votes by printing Awami League-backed posters with JaPa's nomination.

In a recent view exchange meeting with Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman, he said, “I am not a candidate for election. I want to see how fair and neutral election you [EC] are going to conduct. If there is any fair election, I will contest.”

Nine more candidates, including current MP Abdul Mujid Khan as an independent candidate and Awami League-nominated candidate Maizuddin Sharif, are contesting from the constituency in the 7 January election.