Political parties and independent candidates contesting Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election are increasingly voicing anger over what they describe as partisan and discriminatory conduct by returning officers during the scrutiny of nomination papers.
They warn that if the Election Commission (EC) does not take swift and visible corrective action, the upcoming election risks being branded as engineered or pre-arranged, undermining public confidence in the process.
The allegations come amid a record-high rejection rate of nomination papers, with nearly 28% of all candidates disqualified—a figure higher than in the 2008 and 2018 elections, both of which were held with broad party participation.
According to final official figures provided by EC, 2,568 nomination papers were submitted nationwide. Of these, 1,842 were accepted, while 723 candidates were disqualified, pushing the rejection rate to 28%. Earlier, EC said that 2,582 nomination papers were submitted.
By comparison, the rejection rate stood at 22.64% in the 2008 election and 25.64% in 2018.
Election experts say such a sharp increase, particularly when many disqualifications are reportedly based on minor or technical errors, is deeply troubling.
Several political parties—including Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party)—as well as hundreds of independent candidates have accused returning officers of acting with bias to appease “a particular political camp”.
They allege that nomination papers are being rejected over trivial or selectively interpreted discrepancies, while similar issues are overlooked in the cases of favoured candidates.
“Continuing this trend of hostile behaviour and arbitrary rejection will only reinforce fears of a stage-managed election,” several candidates told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Responding to the criticism, KM Ali Nawaz, EC additional secretary, said candidates have the right to appeal decisions by returning officers until 9 January.
“The Election Commission will take appropriate decisions on appeal. In cases of minor errors, the commission is generally flexible,” he said, adding that the EC remains committed to holding a fair election.
On the first day of appeals alone, 42 candidates—including Jamaat leader AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Dhaka-9 independent candidate Dr Tasnim Jara—submitted petitions challenging the rejection of their nomination papers.
Election analyst and member of the interim government’s Election Reform Commission, Abdul Alim, said complaints against returning officers must be investigated thoroughly.
“If the allegations are proven, those officers should be removed from election duties. Otherwise, serious questions will arise about the Election Commission’s neutrality,” he warned, adding that it is too early to judge the overall quality of the election.
Candidates point to inconsistent decisions across constituencies as evidence of bias.
In Sylhet-3, BNP candidate MA Malik initially faced uncertainty over dual citizenship allegations, but his nomination was eventually accepted. In contrast, Ehteshamul Haque, an NCP candidate in Sylhet-1, had his nomination rejected on the same grounds.
Similar disputes emerged in Kurigram-3, Netrokona-5, Cox’s Bazar-2, and Gaibandha-1, where Jamaat candidates alleged their papers were rejected on flimsy or politically motivated grounds.
Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, whose nomination for Cox’s Bazar-2 was rejected, alleged overt bias by election officials.
“When my nomination was rejected, administrative officials clapped. A BNP candidate was brought in to accuse me of concealing information without valid grounds. This is not a sign of a fair election,” he said.
In Manikganj-3, independent candidate Ataur Rahman claimed he was assaulted at the returning officer’s office by supporters of a BNP candidate. Despite filing a written complaint, he said no action had been taken.
Another independent candidate, Mahyuddin Rony from Dhaka-18, said returning officers showed little regard for independent contenders, rejecting his nomination despite correct documentation.
An analysis of the rejected nomination papers shows that independent candidates account for the largest share, with 338 nominations cancelled. Among political parties, Islami Andolan Bangladesh saw 39 of its candidates disqualified, followed by the Jatiya Party (JP) with 59 rejections. Jamaat had 10 candidates rejected, while the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) lost 25 nominations. NCP recorded the lowest number among the major groups, with three candidates disqualified.
Additionally, 25 BNP leaders whose nominations were rejected are now contesting as independents after failing to secure party nominations.
As the election enters its final stages, dissatisfaction is growing not only among candidates but also among voters. Concerns have been raised over the limited visibility and effectiveness of law enforcement, fuelling anxiety about security and the overall integrity of the vote.
