As many as 56 aspirants got back their candidature on the first day as the Election Commission on Sunday started hearing the appeals filed by aggrieved aspirants against the decisions of the returning officers over the nomination papers.

On the first day, the EC headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal heard 94 petitions lodged against the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers during scrutiny in the upcoming national election slated for January 7 next.

Of them, the commission made its decisions over 88 petitions, declaring 56 nomination papers as valid and turning down 32 petitions. The decisions over the rest six ones will be informed later.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh’s aspirant in Munshiganj-1 constituency Mahi B Chowdhury, independent aspirant in Bogura-4 Hero Alam and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement’s (BNM) aspirant in Pabna-2 Doli Sayontoni, were among the 56 petitioners who got back their candidature.

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Though the EC is supposed to hear 100 petitions a day from December 10 to 15, but six petitioners were absent on Sunday.

If anyone becomes aggrieved even with the EC’s decision over candidature, the person has scope to go to the higher court, challenging it.

A total of 561 aspirants filed appeals before the Election Commission, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers.

Most of them lodged petitions against cancellation of nomination papers, while at least 30 aspirants against the acceptance of nomination papers.

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Earlier, a total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independent ones submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th national parliamentary election.

But the returning officers accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4 last.

Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds - mismatch in the 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults, and dual citizenship.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8 am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.

Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election, which is being boycotted by major party BNP and some others.