The Election Commission (EC) has reinstated the candidacy of 56 among the first 94 aspirants, who were initially disqualified for the upcoming 12th national elections after reviewing their appeals.
The commission disposed of 94 appeals on the first day of its review proceedings. The hearing by invalidated candidates started at the EC Secretariat Building at Agargaon in the capital on Sunday.
The commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, took the hearing and delivered the decision.
The nominations of 32 others remained cancelled while the commission has deferred deciding on six candidates for later.
The majority of the candidates whose appeals were approved were independents. However, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh’s aspirant in Munshiganj-1 constituency Mahi B Chowdhury, independent aspirant in Bogura-4 constituency Hero Alam and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement’s (BNM) aspirant in Pabna-2 constituency Doli Sayontoni, were among the 56 petitioners who got back their candidatures.
The Independent candidates who have regained their candidature are: Abdus Salam of Chittagong-8 constituency, Mohammad Shahjahan of Chittagong-2 constituency, Abdul Motaleb of Chittagong-15 constituency, Md Kamrul Hasan of Dhaka-5 constituency, Yunus Islam Talukdar of Tangail-2 constituency, SM Habibur Rahman of Jashore-2 constituency, Md Ziaul Haque Zia of Jamalpur-2 constituency, Mohammad Arifur Rahman of Faridpur-1 constituency, Mokhlesur Rahman of Meherpur-2 constituency, Md. Khalilur Rahman of Barguna-1 constituency, and Biswanath Sarker of Rangpur-2 constituency.
Awami League nominee Nasirul Islam Khan’s candidacy for Kishoreganj-3 has been restored, allowing him to compete against Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu.
Three Jatiya Party candidates were also cleared to contest the JS polls. The three candidates are Talebuzzaman of Noakhali-2 constituency, Md. Shafiqul Islam Madhu of Khulna-6 constituency and ATM Manjurul Islam of Comilla-2 constituency.
Besides, some candidates of Trinamool BNP and some other parties regained their candidatures. They are Trinamool BNP’s Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Khulna-4 constituency, Bangladesh Supreme Party’s Md Minhaj Uddin of Dhaka-20 constituency and Yusuf Ali Sumon of Madaripur-2 constituency.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Front nominated candidate Mumtaz Sultan Ahmed of Munshiganj-3 constituency and Zaker Party candidate Md Mahidul Islam of Jashore-3 constituency have also got back their candidature in EC’s hearing.
Over the next six days until December 15, the Election Commission will hear appeals from invalidated candidates. The EC is scheduled to hear appeals from 110 candidates daily.
Candidates must participate in the hearing with their legal representatives and the essential documentation for their defence.
If dissatisfied with the decision, candidates will have the option to seek reconsideration through the High Court.
Earlier, the EC nullified the nomination papers of 731 out of 2,716 aspirants due to signature discrepancies, loan or bill defaults, and dual citizenship issues during the scrutiny process.
A total of 561 appeals were submitted to the EC against orders of returning officers after scrutinising nomination papers in the 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7.
A total of 29 parties are gearing up to participate in the parliamentary polls.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8:00 am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm without any recess on January 7.
