NAGPUR: Amid persecution of minorities in Bangladesh and rising concerns in India, the nomination of a key Hindu candidate, Gobindadeb Pramanik was rejected Saturday by the returning officer. Pramanik sought to contest as an Independent from Gopalganj-3 in the February 12 polls. Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina was the MP from this seat, which has over 50% Hindu voters.Pramanik is also general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote. An apolitical organisation, it is an alliance of 23 outfits and is considered a Hindutva fountainhead in the country.A provision in Bangladesh’s electoral laws, which requires an Independent candidate to submit signatures of 1% of the voters in the constituency backing the candidature, was invoked by returning officer to turn down his nomination, said Pramanik.Talking to TOI from Gopalganj, Pramanik alleged that after he had managed to secure 1% signatures, workers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party threatened those who signed in his favour with dire consequences. They were asked to turn up before returning officer and say that their signatures were not taken or were wrongly submitted. Following this, returning officer rejected the nomination on grounds of “invalid” signatures. Pramanik said he preferred to fight as an Independent because he had support. He pointed out that 51% of the around 3 lakh voters in Gopalganj are Hindus, adding BNP resorted to such tactics as it does not stand a chance. “Although the signatures of 1% of my voters were correct, the district returning officer did not accept the affidavits. The officer ruled that the signatures were not valid. I shall file an appeal before the election commission and may even move HC after that.”Another Hindu candidate, Dulal Biswas, also saw his papers turned back. Since Biswas was fielded by a registered political party, Gono Forum, the 1% voters’ affidavit rule did not apply to him. The application was stayed for want of papers, and he got a chance to submit the documents afresh, a source said.In nearby Gopalganj 2, another Independent Hindu candidate, Utpal Biswas, is in the fray. The seat was once represented by Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Salim. “I work among the farmers and the downtrodden. I expect that they will vote for me,” Biswas said.
