Dhaka 23 September, 2026

Manna Withdraws from Dhaka-18 Race at the Eleventh Hour

Rtv News

Publish : 09 Feb 2026, 09:12 AM
Mahmudur Rahman Manna. Photo: Collected

With only three days remaining until the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, has abruptly announced his withdrawal from the contest for the Dhaka-18 constituency.

Manna shared the decision via a post on his verified Facebook page at approximately 11:45 PM on Sunday (February 8), citing his inability to meet the high costs of campaigning in the capital.

"Too Expensive to Contest"
In his social media statement, Manna explained that while he had initially decided to run for both Dhaka-18 and Bogura-2 under special circumstances, the sheer scale of the Dhaka constituency proved overwhelming.

"Dhaka-18 is a massive electoral area, spanning seven and a half police stations with nearly 650,000 voters," Manna wrote. "Elections have become so expensive that it is impossible for me to bear the costs. In this context, I have decided to withdraw from the Dhaka-18 race."

He expressed his regrets to supporters who might be disappointed by the sudden exit, offering his sincere apologies.

Focus Shifts to Bogura
Despite bowing out of the race in Dhaka, Manna confirmed he remains a candidate for the Bogura-2 seat. He is currently stationed in Bogura, where he continues to lead his campaign activities for Nagorik Oikya.

This late-stage withdrawal shifts the political landscape of Dhaka-18, one of the city's largest and most influential voting blocs, as the nation prepares to head to the polls.

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