The review of nomination papers for the 13th national election by Returning Officers is set to conclude on Sunday. The Election Commission (EC) has issued the official format for filing appeals against decisions to accept or reject nomination papers.
Appeals may be filed between 5 January and 9 January. The referendum and national election are scheduled for 12 February 2026, according to a statement from the EC Secretariat.
Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations at the EC Secretariat, said that once the scrutiny process ends, the EC will publish the tally of accepted and rejected nomination papers. Verification of the candidates’ documents will continue until 4 January.
Appeals may be submitted by candidates, banks, financial institutions, government service providers, or authorised representatives until 9 January 2026 at 5pm. Applications must be addressed to the EC Secretariat’s Secretary in the prescribed format, including the date of acceptance or rejection, reasons for the appeal, and a certified copy of the relevant order.
Seven copies of the appeal, including one original, must be submitted at the designated booth of the appropriate regional appeal centre. To obtain a copy of the verdict, applicants must use the prescribed form, which is available at the EC’s central appeal submission booth. Either the appellant or their representative may collect the decision.
The EC will hear and resolve appeals between 10 January and 18 January 2026. The EC further said that registered political parties, nominated and independent candidates, their representatives, and government benefit recipients must comply with the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025.”
