The nominations of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and five others for Dhaka-15 seat were declared valid during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the national election.
“The nomination papers of six aspirants for Dhaka-15, including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and BNP’s Shafiqul Islam Khan were declared valid, while that of three others were rejected,” said Md Yunus Ali, the returning officer for Dhaka-13 and 15 constituencies on Saturday.
Four other valid contestants for Dhaka-15 are Shamsul Haque (nominated by Jatiya Party), AKM Shafiqul Islam (Gonoforum), Ashfakur Rahman (Bangladesh Jasod) and Khan Shoeb Aman Ullah (Janatar Dal).
The three aspirants whose nomination papers were declared invalid are Ahammad Sajedul Haque (CPB), Mobarak Hossain (Bangladesh Supreme Party) and Tanzil Islam (independent), said Md Yunus Ali, also the Dhaka Regional Election Officer.
He said the nomination papers of six candidates for Dhaka-13 constituency, including BNP’s Bobby Hajjaj and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Mamunul Haque declared valid, while that of five others declared invalid.
Four other valid candidates for Dhaka-13 are Murad Hossain (nominated by Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Fatema Aktar Munia (Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh), Shahbuddin (Bangladesh Minority Janata Party) and Sohel Rana.
The five aspirants whose nomination papers were turned down are Mijanur Rahman (Gono Odhikar Parishad), Shahriar Iftekhar (Bangladesh Muslim League), Shekh Md Rabiul Islam (independent), Khalequzzaman (Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal) and Raju Ahmed (Amjanatar Dal).
Besides, a total of 119 nomination papers were declared valid in the 13 constituencies – Dhaka-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 and 18—in the capital, while 54 others were cancelled and the decision for one nomination paper remained pending. The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner is the returning officer of the 13 constituencies.
A total of 2,569 aspirants submitted nomination papers in the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline to contest the 13th parliamentary election scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026.
Among them, 478 independent aspirants and 2,091 are from 51 registered political parties.
The scrutiny of nomination papers started on December 30 and is set to be concluded on Sunday (January 04).
The appeals can be filed with the Election Commission from January 5 to 9, challenging the decisions of the returning officers made during the scrutiny of the nomination papers. The Commission will settle the appeals by January 18 next.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) fielded the highest number of aspirants, submitting 331 nomination papers, including multiple candidates in several constituencies.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami followed closely with 276 candidates, while Jatiya Party (JP) submitted 224 nominations.
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The Election Commission on December 12 last declared the schedule to arrange the national election and the referendum on July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.
The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).