Forgery costs nomination of top Dimla Jamaat, IOJ men

6 others out of race for various reasons

3 December 2008, 18:00 PM

E A M Asaduzzaman, Nilphamari

Nomination of Dimla Upazila Jamaat Ameer Moulana Ishaque Ali and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) leader Moulana Monjurul Islam were cancelled yesterday for signature forgery. Both parties are components of the BNP-led four-party alliance. They filed nomination papers from Nilphamari-1 (Domar-Dimla) constituency as independent candidates. The four-party alliance candidate in the constituency is Dr Rafiqul Islam, former prime minister Khaleda Zia's brother-in-law and father of ex-MP Shahrin Islam Tuhin, whi is not eligible to run in the election race as he has been convicted for 20 years in two cases. The Jamaat Ameer and the IOJ leader are among eight persons whose candidature were cancelled for various reasons. Moulana Ishaque Ali and IOJ central assistant secretary Moulana Monjurul Islam separately submitted signatures of one per cent voters in the constituency in support of their candidature as independent candidates, required by new polls laws framed by the Election Commission. Nilphamari returning officer Rashidul Hasan said, after investigation, it was found that signatures of a number of voters in their lists were forged. On the first day of scrutiny yesterday, nomination papers of eight candidates were cancelled in the district. Nomination papers of Aminul Islam (also from Nilphamari-1) and Dipendra Nath Roy (Nil-phamari-3) were cancelled for forging signatures of voters. Nomination paper of Gano Forum central leader Abdur Rouf (Nilphamari-1) was cancelled for bank loan default. Jatiya Party candidate NK Alam's (Nilphamari-1) candidature was rejected for not having party chairman's signature. Candidacy of Haider Ali (Nilphamari-2) and Anwarul Kabir Chowdhury (Nil-phamari-3) were cancelled for errors.