So close yet so far!
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![Photo: Barta24.com](https://imaginary.barta24.com/resize?width=1280&quality=75&type=webp&path=uploads/news/2023/Dec/05/1701744259363.jpg)
Photo: Barta24.com
Three chairs as well side by side. Three candidates are sitting on those three chairs touching distance. But no one talks to anyone. On the contrary, the 'war of words' is going on. This 'war' is to find flaws in the nomination papers of one candidate for the other. But at the end of the alliance, the two could not lose one!
So close yet how far this 'story' is during the scrutiny of nomination papers of Chattogram-15 (Lohagara-Satkania) constituency at the Chattogram district administration office.
On Monday (December 4) afternoon, arguments continued for about a quarter of an hour. These three candidates are Awami League's boat symbol candidate and current MP Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, independent candidate Satkania Upazila Awami League president MA Motaleb and South District Awami League member Dr. A. M. M. Minhazur Rahman.
Before becoming a member of Parliament in 2014, Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi was not a member of Awami League. That is why he was elected as a member of parliament from Chattogram-15 constituency in two consecutive elections as a candidate of the boat symbol, but he still could not gain the 'trust' of the local Awami League leaders and activists. This time the local leaders of Awami League united to stop Nadvi. Several leaders collected party nominations. Still, Awami League trusts Nadvi. However, MA Motaleb and Dr. AMM Minhajur Rahman announced to contest as independent candidates.
Although they were separate candidates, Motaleb and Minhajur had been holding various programs together. However, everyone was putting forward Motaleb as Nadvi's strong rival. It was also felt in the field. Motaleb's supporters have been attacked by Nadvir's supporters in the last few days. Nadvi's supporters also held a sweeping march against Motaleb. Motaleb also complained to the Returning Officer in this incident. That's why everyone was watching what Nadvi and Motaleb do during the nomination scrutiny.
Monday (December 4) was the last day for the scrutiny of nomination papers. Scrutiny of nomination papers of Chattogram-15 seat started at 3 pm today. Both sides came with a lot of preparation for this. Particularly, Nadvi brought along with a huge panel of lawyers. There were at least 12 lawyers in this panel led by Legal Affairs Secretary of Nagar Awami League and Public Prosecutor of Chattogram District and Sessions Judge Court Advocate Sheikh Iftekhar Saimul Chowdhury. On the other hand, Motaleb was accompanied by two lawyers.
In the beginning, Motaleb's two lawyers pointed out various flaws in the nomination papers submitted by Nadvi. They questioned Nadvi's 90 bhori gold price mentioned only at two and a half lakh taka. In 2018, Nadvi had mentioned 50 bhori gold in his nomination papers for the 11th JS elections. That means he has acquired an additional 40 bhori gold in the last five years. But Motaleb's lawyers claim that there is no way that the price of gold can be Tk. 2.5 lakh compared to that.
Then Dr. AMM Minhazur Rahman raised questions about receiving honorarium and allowances from International Islamic University, Chattogram on the report published in a newspaper about Nadvi's affidavit. Besides, regarding the 12th election management manual, the issue of receiving honorarium from foreign donations is controversial. However, Nadvi's lawyers countered this claim. In this way various arguments for and against continued. But in the end Nadvi won the argument. Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman gave the 'judgment' in favor of Nadvi. He said, after considering all the documents, the nomination of Nadvi has been considered correct.
Then the scrutiny of Motaleb's nomination papers began. The Deputy Commissioner questioned two of the 10 people who were selected through dual voting from his 1 percent supporter list. He said that the two did not sign on behalf of Motaleb during verification by the local Assistant Returning Officer. However, when Motaleb brought the two supporters there, the Deputy Commissioner took the initiative to verify their National Identity Card (NID) of the two. But at this stage Nadvi's lawyers raised questions. They said that there is no opportunity to revive the matter which was settled by the Assistant Returning Officer during verification. After this argument, the Deputy Commissioner finally advised Motaleb to appeal to the Election Commission and informed him that his nomination paper had been cancelled.
Then the nomination paper of Minhajur also raised questions about that one percent supporter. The Deputy Commissioner said that 7 out of 10 supporters who were selected through dual voting presented wrong information. At the same time, Nadvi's lawyers also alleged that a person named Syedul Haque was shown as a supporter by both Motaleb and Minhajur. But Minhajur could not give any explanation about this. Ultimately his nomination was also cancelled.
Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi was seen the whole time. Basically the lawyers argued for him. And Motaleb's two lawyers were somewhat uncomfortable in front of the arguments of Nadvi's 4-5 lawyers. That's why Nadvi didn't have to say anything in return.
Nadvi said while leaving after verifying the nomination papers, "The people of Satkania-Lohagara are with me. They will make me the winner in the January 7 elections.
On the other hand, MA Motaleb is not giving up even though the nomination papers have been cancelled. He said that he will appeal to the Election Commission and after the appeal he will get his candidature back.
Many people who saw Nadvi and Motaleb-Minhaju's 'fight' during the scrutiny of nomination papers said, 'Nadvi is a cool-headed player. As always, this time he also made advanced preparations.
He brought down the lawyers. Other candidates have fallen behind in this game of Nadvi. That's why the allegations against Nadvi did not hold water. On the contrary, the other candidates have become useless.