The Appellate Division has rejected the leave to appeal filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi to regain his candidacy in the Comilla-4 constituency in the 13th National Parliament election. As a result, he will not be able to participate in the election, his lawyers said.

The Appellate Division headed by the Chief Justice issued the order on Sunday (February 1).

Advocate Ahsanul Karim and Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun represented Munshi in the court. Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu and Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa represented Hasnat Abdullah.

National Citizens Party (NCP) candidate Hasnat Abdullah has filed an application with the EC to cancel the nomination of Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, alleging loan default. On the afternoon of January 17, the Election Commission (EC) announced the cancellation of the nomination of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi in Comilla-4 constituency, alleging loan default.

To regain his candidacy, he filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the validity of the EC’s decision to cancel his nomination papers. On January 21, the High Court directly dismissed the writ petition filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi against the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to cancel his nomination papers in Comilla-4 constituency on charges of loan default. He later appealed to the Appellate Division.