Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 29 November 2018 protesting and condemning as the Rangpur district commissioner (DC) and Returning officer denied accepting the nomination paper of 20 party alliance’s candidate for the upcoming parliament election for Rangpur-5 (Mithapukur) constituency Mr. Golam Rabbani.

According to the constitution and the RPO order, 1972 any voter citizen of the country is eligible to contest in the national polls. If any such eligible person wants to submit his nomination paper, then the concerned staff of the state has no right to deny that. Such a step clearly goes against the constitution and the law.

20 party alliance’s candidate for the upcoming parliament election for Rangpur-5 (Mithapukur) constituency Mr. Golam Rabbani went to the office of the Returning officer and the district commissioner of Rangpur at 2 pm on 28 November along with his representatives Advocate Bayzid Osmani and several other lawyers. But the concerned officials showed their hesitant attitudes to accept his nomination paper. Later, Rangpur DC, SP, Sadar Thana’s OC and other returning officers hold a secret meeting and denied accepting his nomination paper claiming that there are some negative instructions from the higher authority. By such denial, returning officer showed his utmost disrespect towards his due responsibilities and duties. He also humiliated the law and the constitution. We are vehemently condemning his role. Mr. Golam Rabbani submitted a written application to the Chief Election Commissioner to accept his nomination paper.

We hope that the concerned authorities would accept his nomination paper and allow him to take part in the upcoming election.