Fifty-eight candidates, including Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, contesting the Bogura-2 constituency, regained their candidacy for the upcoming parliamentary election on the second day of appeal hearings at Election Commission on Sunday.
Two Jamaat-e-Islami candidates – Abdul Mubin and Mujibur Rahman Azadi – contesting Chandpur-2 and Jamalpur-3 respectively, also regained their candidacy.
The appeal hearings were held from morning to afternoon at Nirbachan Bhaban, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
Later, the Election Commission’s public relations director Ruhul Amin Mallik disclosed the outcomes.
According to the Election Commission, a total of 71 appeals were heard on Sunday, of which 58 were accepted, seven were rejected, and six were deferred for later disposal.
In addition, the commission approved the pending appeal of Md Mohiuddin, an independent candidate from the Munshiganj-3 constituency, which had remained unresolved from Saturday.
In an instant reaction after the hearing, Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the conspiracy behind the cancellation of his nomination had ultimately failed.
Referring to allegations related to bank loans, he said the claim that he was a loan defaulter was completely false. “Fake notice had been created through an official of Islami Bank Bangladesh’s Bogura Barogola branch to support the allegation.”
After learning of the matter, Manna said he contacted the bank’s head office, following which the concerned official was punished through a stand release and transfer.
However, he added, that information did not come to light in the media.
Earlier on Saturday, 51 candidates had regained their candidacy.
As a result, 109 candidates have regained eligibility over the two-day appeal process, while one previously valid candidate has been disqualified.
Following scrutiny by returning officers after nomination submission for the 12 February election, 1,842 candidates were initially declared valid.
With the latest approvals, the total number of valid candidates has now risen to 1,950.
Appeal hearings for petitions numbered 141 to 210 will be held on Monday at the Election Building auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, from 10am to 5pm.
A total of 645 appeal petitions have been submitted, and the hearings are scheduled to conclude by 17 January.
According to the election schedule, 20 January is the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations.
The final list of candidates will be published the following day, after which electoral symbols will be allotted to the contesting candidates.
Candidates who regained eligibility on Sunday
Among those who also regained their candidacy on Sunday include Atikur Rahman from Kurigram-2, Jaharul Haque from Jashore-4, MA Halim from Jashore-5, GM Hasan from Jashore-6, and Iqbal Hossain from Rajshahi-6, all candidates of Jatiya Party.
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists after attending the appeal hearing, Shamim Haider Patwary, secretary general of Jatiya Party, said his party can secure 40 to 70 seats if the election is held in a free and fair manner with a level playing field.
He said many nominations had been cancelled over minor errors, but described it as fortunate that the appellate tribunal was reviewing the cases with an open mind and allowing them after scrutiny.
Returning officers, he added, had failed to exercise positive discretion during nomination scrutiny due to fear of mobs and political tagging.
Also regaining eligibility were Sultan Md Shamsuzzaman, a candidate of AB Party from Joypurhat-2; Md Mizanur Rahman of Gono Forum from Magura-1; Nurul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh from Dhaka-1; and Abu Noman Md Mamunur Rashid Mondol from Bogura-6.
Appeals rejected
Candidates whose appeal petitions were rejected on Sunday include independent contenders Morshedul Islam Asif from Faridpur-3; Habiba Begum from Rajshahi-3; Ilias Uddin from Sherpur-1; Taslima Begum from Bhola-2; Zainul Abedin from Rangpur-4; SM Azmal Hossain from Khulna-4; and Shamsul Islam, a candidate of Khelafat Majlis from Mymensingh-9.
Meanwhile, appeal petitions of Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid, a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate from Jashore-2; Mohibullah Khokon, an independent candidate from Bhola-2; Abdul Qader Mia from Faridpur-4; Raihan Kawsar from Rajshahi-5; Hamidul Islam, a National Peoples Party candidate from Mymensingh-4; and Gobinda Halder, an independent candidate from Khulna-1, were kept pending.
