Dhaka-9 independent candidate Tasnim Jara’s nomination has been suspended

The nomination papers of independent candidate Tasnim Jara for the Dhaka-9 constituency were suspended by the returning officer after scrutiny.

Tasnim said today that she has already begun the appeal process. “I submitted my nomination papers as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9, but they have not yet been accepted,” she said, adding, “We will appeal, and the process has already started.”

Explaining the suspension, she said independent candidates are required to submit signatures from one percent of the total voters in the constituency. “We submitted more than the required number, including around 200 extra signatures,” she said.

According to Tasnim, the Election Commission randomly selected 10 voters from the list for verification. “Eight were confirmed, but two were found not to be voters of Dhaka-9,” she said, noting that one of them lived in Khilgaon, outside the constituency, while another voter’s National Identity Card listed an address beyond Dhaka-9.

“There was no way for us to know that they were not Dhaka-9 voters,” she said, adding that the Election Commission provides no mechanism for candidates to verify the constituency status of signatories.

Tasnim said she remains hopeful of a favourable outcome through the appeal process. “As an independent candidate, there are certainly challenges, but the support from people is encouraging,” she said.

“Our campaign will continue with transparency and accountability.”