Hindu Leader Barred from Hasina's Seat: Bangladesh Election Integrity Questioned

• Gobinda Deb Pramanik, a prominent Hindu leader, had his nomination rejected for Gopalganj-3, Sheikh Hasina's former constituency.
• Gopalganj-3 has over 50% Hindu voters, and Pramanik was contesting as an independent candidate, representing Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote.
• The rejection was based on the 1% signature rule for independent candidates, but Pramanik alleges pressure from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
• Pramanik claims BNP workers intimidated his supporters, forcing them to retract signatures, leading to the invalidation of his nomination.
• This incident raises concerns about the impartiality of the Bangladeshi Election Commission and the credibility of the upcoming general elections.

Why It Matters: Hindu candidate's nomination rejection in Hasina's seat sparks election integrity concerns in Bangladesh.