Bangladesh Election Commission Cancels Nomination Of Key Hindu Leader For Feb 12 Polls

Last Updated:January 05, 2026, 20:15 IST

The run-up to Bangladesh polls has been marked by sharp political polarisation, allegations of administrative bias, incidents of intimidation and spate of attacks on minorities.

Bangladesh Election Commission cancelled Hindu leader and lawyer Govind Chandra Pramanik's nomination from the Gopalganj-3 constituency. (X)

A prominent Hindu leader and lawyer, Govind Chandra Pramanik, has been barred from contesting the elections after the Bangladesh Election Commission cancelled his nomination from the Gopalganj-3 constituency ahead of general elections scheduled to be held on February 12.

Pramanik, general secretary of the Jatiya Hindu Mahajot, alleged political pressure and said supporters who had signed his nomination papers were forced to withdraw.

Pramanik told broadcaster India Today that he would challenge the decision before the Election Commission and the courts, calling the move part of a broader pattern of marginalisation of Hindu political representation.

BJP leader Amit Malviya on Monday condemned the Bangladesh Election Commission’s move to cancel the nomination of Hindu leader Gobind Chandra Pramanik from Gopalganj, the former parliamentary seat of Sheikh Hasina, ahead of the general elections.

In a post on X, Malviya said, “Another SHOCKER from Bangladesh: In a deeply disturbing development, the Bangladesh Election Commission has cancelled the nomination of prominent Hindu leader Gobind Chandra Pramanik from Gopalganj, the former parliamentary seat of Sheikh Hasina, ahead of the general elections."

He further said that this was not an isolated incident and “it reflects a pattern where minorities, particularly Hindus, are systematically pushed out of political representation".

“Let there be no illusion: this is exactly what awaits the Hindus of West Bengal if Mamata Banerjee were ever to return to power in 2026. Thankfully, that possibility, as things stand today, is ZERO," he added.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold its general elections on February 12, with the contest primarily involving the ruling Awami League, the opposition BNP and Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. The run-up to the polls has been marked by sharp political polarisation, allegations of administrative bias, incidents of intimidation and a spate of attacks on minorities.

In one incident, Ataur Rahman, an independent candidate in the Manikganj-3 constituency and a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), alleged that he was physically harassed inside the office of the returning officer after his nomination was declared invalid.

According to a report by Prothom Alo, Ataur Rahman said he was pushed out of the returning officer’s chamber after objecting to the acceptance of the BNP-backed candidate’s nomination. In a written complaint submitted to the district administration, he alleged that local BNP leaders threatened and humiliated him when he raised objections related to pending cases and utility dues linked to the party nominee.

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