Awami League nominee Aga Khan Mintu is likely to be elected unopposed in Dhaka-14 by-polls, scheduled for July 28.

Assistant Returning Officer Mohammad Shahjalal said Jatiya Party's Mostakur Rahman, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu)-backed Abu Hanif, and Bangladesh Nationalist Front nominee AYM Kamrul Islam had withdrawn from the race yesterday.

The candidates cited the pandemic as the reason for their withdrawal, said an official.

Shahjalal said the returning officer's office earlier cancelled the candidacy of independent runners Mohammad Moniruzzman and Ruhul Amin Sarkar.

Moniruzzaman's nomination was cancelled as he submitted signature of four people who were not voters of Dhaka-14 constituency and Ruhul Amin submitted incomplete nomination forms.

According to the Representation of the People Order, 1972, submission of signatures of one percent of the total voters in the constituency concerned is mandatory for an independent candidate.

Moniruzzaman appealed to EC against the returning officer's decision but the EC upheld the decision after a hearing, said Shahjalal.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is today [June 24].

Dhaka-14 fell vacant after AL MP Aslamul Hoque died on April 4.