The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday cancelled nomination papersof eight candidates in the by-election to Dhaka-17 constituency, while seven other candidate survived the scrutiny of the returning officers concerned.
This seat became vacant following the death of Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooq, on 15 May this year.
A total of 15 candidates from different political parties along with some individuals had submitted their candidatures.
The EC officials said the nomination papers of those eight candidates have been cancelled due submission of improper information and documents attached with the nomination papers. However, those people have the chance of appealing before the EC authorities, they said.
"Those whose nominations have been cancelled can appeal to the Election Commission," Munir Hossain Khan, the returning officer of the Dhaka-17 by-election and senior election officer of the Dhaka district, said on Sunday (18 June) after scrutiny of the nomination papers.
The valid candidates are Mohammad Ali Arafat of Awami League, SikderAnisur Rahman of Jatiya Party (Backed by GM Quader), Rezaul Islam Swapan of Bangladesh Congress, Kamrul Islam of Ganatantri Party (Backed by party chairman), Ashok Kumar Dhar of Ganatantri Party (Backed by party’s general secretary), Mohammad Akhter Hossain of Bangladesh SanskritikJote and Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinamul BNP.
Candidature of those eight people have been canceled are KaziMdRashidul Hasan of Zaker Party, Mamunur Rashid of Jatiya Party (Backed by RaushanErshad), independent Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, Abu Azam Khan, Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alam, Musaur Rahman, Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Asaduzzaman Jalal.
If any seat in the Parliament becomes vacant, a by-election must be held within 90 days. As such, the seat is bound to hold a by-election by 12 August.
On 1 June, the Election Commission Secretariat released a notification, announcing the schedule for the Dhaka-17 by-polls.
As per the schedule, the last date for the nomination paperscrutiny was on Sunday (June 18). The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is on June 25 and symbols will be allotted the next day. Voting will be held on July 17.
The first session of the 11th National Parliament took place on 30 January, 2019, and as per the constitutional obligation, the 12th parliamentary elections must be conducted by 29 January, 2024. This means, whoever is elected in Dhaka-17 will be a member of Parliament for a period of five months.
