Asif Mahmud collects nomination paper for Cumilla-3

Former adviser of the interim government Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has collected a nomination paper for the Cumilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency.

The nomination form was collected on his behalf by Ramjanul Karim from the office of the Cumilla Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Returning Officer on Wednesday, December 24. The matter came to light on Friday night, December 26.

Cumilla Assistant Commissioner (Confidential and Expatriate Welfare) Hasibur Rahman Porag confirmed the development on Saturday, December 27. He said a total of 104 nomination forms have so far been collected across 11 constituencies in Cumilla, including the one collected on behalf of Asif Mahmud for Cumilla-3.

Speaking to reporters, Ramjanul Karim said, “A few associates of Asif Mahmud came to my residence with a bank draft and asked me to collect the nomination form from the DC office. I have no personal relationship with him and only acted on their request.”

Meanwhile, Ubaidul Siddiqi, Asif Mahmud’s cousin and coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) in Muradnagar, said they became aware of the issue through media reports on Friday night.

He said no decision had been taken in Muradnagar regarding nomination collection, adding that Asif Mahmud would contest from Dhaka-10 and that the decision was final.

Jahid Patowari/MHK