The Election Commission (EC) today cancelled the nomination of Monira Sharmin, a retired government official and a leader of National Citizen Party (NCP), for the women’s reserved seat election to the 13th National Parliament, scheduled for May 12.

The decision came as she had not completed three years since her retirement from government service. However, she will have the opportunity to appeal to the EC to regain her candidacy.

EC officials said that, with this cancellation, one of the 50 reserved women’s seats has fallen vacant. The seat will later be opened up, allowing all political parties and alliances to contest.

Reacting to the decision, Monira Sharmin told reporters that she would appeal to the EC to restore her candidacy.

Returning Officer for the women’s reserved seat election and EC Joint Secretary Md Moin Uddin Khan announced the cancellation this afternoon at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Today was the second and final day of scrutiny of nomination papers for the reserved seats. In two days, the EC examined 53 nomination papers.

Moin Uddin said, “Yesterday, during scrutiny, we noted some deficiencies in Monira Sharmin’s documents. She was asked to submit them by 12 noon today, which she did within the deadline.”

Explaining the cancellation, he added, “We reviewed the relevant provisions of the law on reserved women’s seats and the Representation of the People Order (RPO). It shows that Monira was employed at a statutory public authority, namely Bangladesh Krishi Bank."

"Under Article 12(1)(c) of the RPO, a person employed in a statutory public authority must wait at least three years after resignation or retirement before contesting elections. In her case, three years have not yet passed. Therefore, her nomination paper has been cancelled,” he said.

He further said, “A candidate whose nomination is cancelled can appeal to the EC. The commission may then uphold or overturn the decision.”

Asked whether voting would be required, Moin Uddin Khan said the EC would announce the matter after withdrawals.

Assistant Returning Officer and EC Deputy Secretary Md Monir Hossain explained, “If a seat remains vacant within the stipulated time, it will later be opened. According to the Reserved Women’s Seat Act, 2004, the cancelled seat will be opened, and all alliances will then be able to contest.”

Speaking to journalists, Monira Sharmin said, “It is true that three years have not passed since my retirement. But I believe the law does not apply to someone like me, a 10th-grade officer. I will appeal against this decision. The law was made to prevent certain categories of officials from contesting elections within three years of retirement, but I don’t think it applies to me, as I worked in a bank.”