The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday restored the candidacies of 60 more previously rejected aspirants after hearing their appeals, while rejecting the appeals filed by 29 others in the February-12 national election.

The full Election Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, also dismissed five appeals filed against five valid candidates, upholding the validity of their nominations for the 13th parliamentary election.

Besides, the EC, functioning as the Electoral Appeal Tribunal, kept 10 appeal petitions pending for further hearing and disposal.

The Commission began hearing and disposing of appeal petitions last Saturday, filed by aggrieved candidates and organisations challenging the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers by returning officers during scrutiny. The EC is scheduled to hear a total of 645 appeals by January 18.

With the restoration of 60 candidates on Thursday, the total number of previously rejected aspirants who have regained their candidacy now stands at 335, while 107 invalid candidates have so far failed to return to the race.

On Thursday, the EC kept pending the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami aspirant Mahbubul Alam for Kurigram-3, which is set to be settled on January 17, while reinstating the candidacy of Jamaat aspirant Masum Mostafa for Netrakona-5.

The Commission rejected the petition filed by Jamaat candidate Masud Sayedi of Pirojpur-1 against the validity of BNP candidate Alamgir Hossain. It also kept pending the petition filed by Trust Bank against the validity of BNP candidate Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury for Chattogram-4, which will be heard on January 17.

The EC upheld the validity of BNP candidate Hummam Quader Chowdhury for Chattogram-7, rejecting an appeal filed by Peoples Leasing and Financial Services Ltd.

Similarly, the Commission rejected an appeal filed by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate Omar Faruk, upholding the validity of BNP candidate Jashim Uddin Ahmed for Chattogram-14.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (a faction) Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud failed to regain his candidacy on appeal for the Chattogram-5 (Hathazari Upazila) constituency.

According to the EC, a total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline.

After scrutiny, returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723 others.