Hannan Masud Faces Writ Over Alleged Affidavit Fraud

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking the declaration of Abdul Hannan Masud’s parliamentary seat as vacant over an allegation of fraud involving his election affidavit.

Masud, a candidate nominated by the National Citizen Party (NCP), was elected from the Noakhali-6 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition was filed by Nazmul Hossain, a resident of Hatiya, on the grounds that Masud allegedly submitted an affidavit without being properly aware of its contents.

Lawyer ABM Ibrahim Khalil confirmed the filing on Wednesday, 19 August. He said Hossain, son of Mosharraf Hossain of Uttar Bejuglia in Tamruddi, Hatiya, brought the matter before the High Court.

The writ petition has been listed before a High Court bench comprising Justice Raziq Al Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury.

According to Ibrahim Khalil, Masud signed and submitted the affidavit without being fully aware of the information contained in it. The lawyer said Masud himself had acknowledged the matter.

The lawyer described the alleged conduct as affidavit fraud and said the petition seeks judicial intervention over the issue. The central question raised in the writ is why the Noakhali-6 seat should not be declared vacant on the grounds of alleged irregularities in the affidavit.

An election affidavit is a significant document in the electoral process, as candidates are required to formally provide information relevant to their candidature. Any allegation concerning the accuracy, authenticity or manner of submission of such a document can therefore become a matter for legal scrutiny.

Masud secured victory in Noakhali-6 in the election held on 12 February. Contesting on the NCP ticket with the Shapla Kali symbol, he received 91,899 votes.

His nearest rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate Mohammad Mahbuber Rahman, contested with the Dhaner Shish symbol and secured 64,021 votes. Masud therefore won the constituency by a margin of 27,878 votes.

The writ does not itself establish that fraud took place. The allegations will have to be considered through the judicial process, and any decision regarding the validity of the election result or the status of the parliamentary seat will ultimately depend on the court’s findings and orders.

The case has now brought the accuracy and validity of the elected lawmaker’s affidavit under judicial consideration, with the next proceedings expected to determine how the High Court will deal with the petition.