Speaking to journalists after filing the appeal, Monira Sharmin said, “I have appealed against the order cancelling my nomination”

Staff Reporter:

Monira Sharmin of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has filed an appeal with the Election Commission (EC) challenging the cancellation of her nomination paper. The hearing on the appeal is scheduled for Monday morning.

She submitted the appeal application at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to journalists after filing the appeal, Monira Sharmin said, “I have appealed against the order cancelling my nomination. The Election Commission has scheduled the hearing for 10:30am tomorrow.”

She added, “The law cited to cancel my nomination is being interpreted in a strictly black-and-white manner. My legal challenge is against that interpretation. With due respect to the law, I would say that its application in this case undermines the purpose of reserved seats for women. As an entry-level bank officer with only two years of service, I was not in a position to provide any undue advantage or hold any administrative authority.”

According to sources, her nomination paper was rejected on April 23 during scrutiny by the returning officer for the reserved women’s seat, as three years had not elapsed since her resignation from government service.

Earlier, on April 22, the returning officer declared 12 out of 13 candidates of an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami as valid.