The Election Commission (EC) on Monday reinstated the candidacy of 41 aspirants following the third day of appeal hearings against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
A total of 71 appeals were disposed of during the day, including 70 scheduled hearings and one deferred from Sunday.
Of these, 41 appeals were accepted, 25 rejected, four deferred, and one withdrawn by the petitioner.
Among the rejected appeals was that of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate AKM Fazlul Haque from Chattogram-9, whose nomination was cancelled on grounds of dual citizenship.
Hasnat Kaiyum, president of the Rastro Songskar Andolan and an independent candidate from Kishoreganj-5, regained his candidacy through the appeal process.
Over the three-day hearings, 21 candidates from the Jatiya Party (JaPa) have had their nominations restored.
Party Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary said on Monday that three of the party’s five appeals heard on the third day were accepted, while two were rejected.
The candidates whose appeals were accepted are Md Mamunur Rahim (Tangail-6), AKM Fazlul Haque (Jamalpur-1), and Md Abdur Rashid (Satkhira-4). The rejected appeals involved Md Jahangir Alam (Sunamganj-5) and SM Abdul Mannan (Manikganj-2).
Shameem Haider Patwary said the party would move the higher court over the rejected appeals.
According to the EC, a total of 645 appeals were filed between 5 and 9 January against nomination scrutiny decisions.
Earlier, returning officers cancelled 723 nomination papers nationwide.
So far, 210 appeals have been heard over three days, resulting in the reinstatement of 150 candidates. Hearings for appeals numbered 211 to 280 are scheduled for Tuesday.
Under the election schedule, appeal hearings will continue until 18 January. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is 20 January, while the final list of candidates and symbol allocation will be announced on 21 January.
Campaigning will begin on 22 January, and voting is scheduled for 12 February, from 7:30am to 4:30pm.
Earlier, 51 candidates regained eligibility on Saturday, followed by 57 on Sunday.
