Dhaka, Dec. 29 -- Tasnim Jara, an independent candidate of Dhaka-9, on Monday urged the Election Commission to simplify the electoral process for independent contenders, saying the existing requirement of securing signatures from one percent of voters is unnecessarily difficult and discriminatory.

She called the rule a major barrier to fair participation, pointing out that independent candidates must gather signatures from one percent of voters in their constituency, unlike party-backed candidates who face no such requirement.

Tasnim Jara made this statement while campaigning for signature collection in Khilgaon-Bashabo area of the capital.

Tasnim recently resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and announced her decision to con...