A significant development has unfolded in Bangladesh ahead of its parliamentary elections, with the nomination papers of a prominent Hindu leader, Gobind Chandra Pramanik, being rejected, while this incident occurred just before the elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, stirring considerable discussion within the country's political and social spheres. Pramanik had filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the Gopalganj-3 constituency, a seat historically held by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This particular constituency is notable for having over 50% Hindu voters, making it a crucial area for the minority community.
The Contested Nomination and Allegations
Gobind Chandra Pramanik, a lawyer by profession and the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote (BJHM), a Hindu nationalist alliance, has leveled serious accusations regarding the rejection of his nomination. According to media reports, Pramanik stated that Bangladeshi law requires an independent candidate to submit signatures from 1% of the voters in their constituency. He claimed to have duly submitted the necessary signatures. However, these voters later appeared before the Returning Officer, asserting that their signatures had not been taken. Pramanik alleges that activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, pressured these voters to retract their statements. Following these retractions, the Returning Officer declared all signatures invalid and subsequently cancelled Gobind Chandra Pramanik's nomination. Pramanik has denounced this action as a political conspiracy designed to prevent him from contesting the elections.
Gobind Chandra Pramanik and the BJHM
Gobind Chandra Pramanik serves as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote (BJHM), an alliance comprising 23 Hindu nationalist organizations. This group is reportedly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and actively promotes Hindutva ideology within Bangladesh. The BJHM operates over 350 Vedic schools across various regions of Bangladesh, where children receive education in Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita. In 2023, Pramanik articulated the mission of these Vedic schools, stating that their goal is to instill a sense of Hindu pride in children from a young age to promote and protect their religion, while he also emphasized that Hinduism in Bangladesh is currently facing an existential crisis. Pramanik expressed confidence in his electoral victory, especially in Gopalganj-3, where Hindus constitute 51% of the 300,000 voters. He believes that the BNP orchestrated his removal from the electoral. Race because they had no chance of winning in that constituency. He has vowed to file a complaint with the Election Commission and pursue legal action in court if he doesn't receive justice.
Another Hindu Candidate Faces Rejection
In a similar vein to Gobind Chandra Pramanik's case, another Hindu candidate, Dulal Biswas, also had his nomination rejected. Dulal Biswas had been nominated by a registered political party, Gono Forum. As a party candidate, the rule requiring 1% voter signatures didn't apply to him. However, his nomination was rejected citing a lack of proper documentation. Dulal Biswas has indicated his intention to resubmit the necessary documents. Plus, Utpal Biswas, another independent Hindu candidate, is contesting from the Gopalganj-2 seat, a constituency once represented by Sheikh Hasina's cousin, Sheikh Salim, while utpal Biswas stated that he works among farmers and the underprivileged and hopes to secure their votes. These incidents collectively highlight the challenges faced by minority candidates in Bangladesh's electoral process.
Broader Political Landscape and Election Background
These elections are taking place at a time when Bangladesh has undergone significant political upheaval, while sheikh Hasina's government collapsed on August 5, 2024, following student protests, after which she resigned and sought refuge in India. An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was formed on August 8. The interim government initially promised to hold elections within six months, but the deadline was later extended, and the general elections are now scheduled for February 12, 2026. Following Hasina's departure, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was considered the largest party in Bangladesh. However, Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30 due024 after a prolonged illness. The leadership of the BNP is now in the hands of her son, Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after 17 years in exile. He was greeted by approximately 100,000 BNP activists at Dhaka Airport. Rahman filed his nominations on December 29 for the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies, while bogura-6 has been his mother Khaleda Zia's traditional seat. According to media reports, Tarique Rahman is considered a potential prime ministerial candidate for the BNP.
Escalating Violence Against Hindus
Amidst the electoral climate, there has been a noticeable increase in violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Following the death of anti-India leader Usman Hadi on December 18, Islamic organizations have reportedly begun targeting Hindu minorities. Within a span of 15 days, four Hindus have been murdered in Bangladesh, while on December 18, Deepu Chandra was killed under false accusations of blasphemy. Subsequently, on December 24, a mob brutally beat to death 29-year-old Amrit Mandal alias Samrat. On December 29, Bajendra Biswas, a 42-year-old textile factory worker, was shot dead in Mymensingh district, while during these incidents, mobs also set fire to several Hindu homes. This escalating violence has become a serious concern for the minority community and raises questions about the fairness of the electoral process. The rejection of nominations for Gobind Chandra Pramanik and other Hindu candidates becomes even more significant against this backdrop, as it poses serious questions about minority representation and the protection of their rights.
