The Election Commission on Sunday cleared the way for 58 previously rejected aspirants to contest the upcoming national election on February 12.
Among them is Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna for Bogura-2, two Jamaat-e-Islami nominees for Chandpur-2 and Bogura-2, and six Jatiya Party aspirants, raising the stakes in several key constituencies ahead of the February 12 polls.
Acting as the Electoral Appeal Tribunal, the Election Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin heard a total of 71 appeal petitions at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Sunday.
Of the petitions, the Commission granted 58 petitions, rejected seven others and kept six petitions pending to be settled later, said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik.
With the 58 aspirants, a total of 109 petitioners returned to the electoral race and one lost candidacy as the EC completed hearing of 132 petitions in the first two days.
The EC will hear and dispose of a total of 645 petitions by January 18, which were filed by aggrieved aspirants, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers.
Those who got back candidacy on Sunday include Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna for Bogura-2, two Jamaat aspirants Mohammad Abdul Mobin for Chandpur-2 and Mujibur Rahman Azadi for Jamalpur-3, six Jatiya Party aspirants Syed Md Iftekhar Ahmed for Cumilla-1, former MP Shariful Islam Jinnah for Bogura-02, Jahurul Haque for Jashore-4, MA Halim for Jashore-5, GM Hasan for Jashore-6 and Iqbal Hossain for Rajshahi-06, two Islami Andolan Bangladesh aspirant Nurul Islam for Dhaka-1 and Abu Noman Md Mamunur Rashid Mandal for Bogura-6.
Besides, the petition of Jamaat nominated Mohammad Moslehuddin Farid for Jashore-2 was kept pending to be settle on January 16.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who submitted nomination papers for Bogura-2 and Dhaka-18 to run the 13th parliamentary election, but his nomination paper for Dhaka-18 was accepted, while his nomination paper for Bogura-2 was cancelled on ground of bank loan default during the scrutiny conducted by the returning officers.
Manna, in an instant reaction, said there was a conspiracy behind the cancellation of his nomination, but it has ultimately failed. “I first express my gratitude to Almighty Allah. I firmly believed that this conspiracy would not succeed,” he said.
Addressing allegations related to bank loan default, he said the claims that he was a defaulter were completely false.
He alleged that a fake notice had been created through an official of Islami Bank’s Bogura Borogola branch.
Upon learning about the matter, he contacted the bank’s head office and then disciplinary action was taken against him (the officer) through stand release and transfer. “However, this information did not come to light in the media,” Manna added.
Expressing satisfaction with the Election Commission’s role, Manna said the Commission had taken a stand in favour of inclusive politics.
Regarding support from the BNP, Manna said the party’s nominated candidate has not yet withdrawn his candidature. “But I hope that since I was formally announced earlier, it will be natural for the candidature to be withdrawn,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, the EC granted 52 appeal petitions and turned down 15 other petitions. With Saturday’s decision, the Commission reinstated 51 candidates in the electoral race and removed one candidate (Brahmanbaria-1) from the race.
This time a majority of aspirants who challenged the rejection of their nomination papers have regained eligibility to contest the 13th parliamentary election, as the EC adopted a lenient approach towards minor errors and unintentional mistakes found in nomination documents and affidavits.
A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to run the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies within the December-29 deadline.
The 69 returning officers- – two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), 64 district deputy commissioners and three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna)— declared 1,842 nomination papers valid, while 723 others invalid during the scrutiny from December 30 to January 04.
Bangladesh Polls: EC hearings restore candidacies of most petitioners
Since BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away, her three nomination papers submitted for three constituencies were not scrutinized.
The Election Commission on December 11 announced the polls schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.
According to the schedule, the late date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till (7:30am on February 10) 48 hours before the balloting period.