However, the nomination papers of five other mayoral aspirants were declared valid by the EC.

The by-elections to the vacant DNCC mayoral post and Kishoreganj-1 constituency will be held on February 28.

The valid four other candidates are National People’s Party’s (PPP’s) Anisur Rahman Dewan, Nationalist Democratic Movement’s (NDM’s) Bobby Hazzaz, Progressive Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Shahin Khan and Abdur Rahim.

During the scrutiny, DNCC by-polls returning officer Md Abul Kashem cancelled Shafin’s nomination paper for loan default.

Jatiya Party on Wednesday picked popular singer Shafin Ahmed to contest the by-election to the DNCC mayoral post with its ticket.

Besides, election to councillor posts of 36 new wards--18 in DNCC and 18 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)--will be held on the same day.

In the DNCC, a total of 167 general councillor aspirants submitted nomination papers against 18 posts, while 46 women councillor aspirants filed nomination papers against six posts in the new wards.

But the EC cancelled nomination papers of seven general councillor aspirants and one hopeful for reserved seat.

In the DSCC, a total of 158 general councillor aspirants submitted nomination papers against 18 posts, while 25 women councillor aspirants submitted nomination papers against six reserved seats.

The EC turned down nomination papers of eight general councillor aspirants. However, no one from nomination papers of the woman councillor aspirants was cancelled.        

On Jan 22, the EC announced the polls schedules following the High Court’s order that cleared the way to hold elections to the DNCC mayoral post and the councillor posts in the 36 new wards of DNCC and DSCC.

In January 2018, the Election Commission had announced a schedule for by-elections to the DNCC mayoral post as well as 36 general councillor posts and 12 reserved councillor posts for the 36 new wards being added to the capital’s two city corporations –equally divided between the north and south.

Within days of the announcement, the High Court stayed the by-elections following writ petitions filed with the court. The court’s order came a day before the deadline for the submission of nomination papers.

The size of the DNCC electorate is just over 2.9 million, spread across its 54 wards.