Gobind Chandra Pramanik, a lawyer and general secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajot (BJHM), said the returning officer on Saturday rejected his nomination for the Gopalganj-3 seat, scheduled to go to polls on February 12. The constituency was earlier represented by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and has a Hindu-majority electorate.

Pramanik, who filed his papers as an independent candidate, alleged that workers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) conspired to have his nomination invalidated. Under Bangladeshi election rules, independent candidates must submit signatures from at least one percent of voters in their constituency. Pramanik said he met the requirement, but claimed several signatories later withdrew their support under pressure.

“Voters were forced to tell the returning officer that their signatures were forged,” Pramanik alleged, adding that all signatures were subsequently declared invalid. He said he would approach the Election Commission and move court if necessary.

Election officials have not publicly commented on the allegations. BNP leaders have also not issued a formal response to Pramanik’s claims.

Gopalganj-3 has approximately 300,000 voters, with Hindu voters accounting for an estimated 51 percent. Pramanik said he chose to contest as an independent due to his confidence in securing broad community support. He earlier told local media that he had no formal political affiliation, though he has long been active in Hindu community organisations.

In a separate development, the nomination of another Hindu candidate, Dulal Biswas of the Gono Forum, was also rejected, reportedly due to incomplete documentation. Biswas is expected to refile his papers. Meanwhile, independent candidate Utpal Biswas remains in the race from Gopalganj-2, where he says his grassroots work among farmers and marginalised groups has earned public backing.

The election will be the first general poll since Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in August 2024 following a student-led movement. An interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge, initially promising elections within six months. The timeline was later extended, with polls now set for February 12, 2026.

The political landscape has shifted sharply since Hasina’s exit. The BNP, founded by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has emerged as the most influential force. Khaleda Zia died in December last year, and the party is now led by her son Tarique Rahman, who returned from exile and is widely seen as a prime ministerial contender.

The rejection of Hindu candidates’ nominations comes amid heightened anxiety among minority communities. Recent weeks have seen a series of attacks on Hindus, intensifying scrutiny of law and order and minority protections ahead of the polls.