Dhaka, Jan. 2 -- Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad has been knocked out of the race in Cox's Bazar-2 after election officials rejected his nomination papers during scrutiny.

The Cox's Bazar returning officer announced the decision on Friday evening, saying the nomination was ruled invalid due to "issues related to cases".

The returning officer has not clarified the reason for the cancellation.

"The case they are referring to was filed during the autocratic regime. He even served three months in prison after being convicted in the case," said Md Arif, the lawyer for Azad.

Arif said the case has been challenged in the High Court.

"It was a case filed over defamation of a court. It did not involve a spe...