Some 275 aspirants have got back their candidacy in the national election slated for January 7 next as the Election Commission on Friday completed the disposal of appeals filed by aggrieved aspirants against the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers.
Of them, 153 aspirants are nominated by different political parties and the rest 122 are independent contenders.
Besides, the commission scrapped the candidacy of five aspirants whose nomination papers were earlier declared valid by the returning officers.
The five aspirants are Bangladesh Awami League nominated three candidates Shamim Haque in Faridpur-3, Enamul Haque Babul in Jashore-4 and Abdus Salam in Mymensingh-9, and independent contenders Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah in Barishal-5 and Khandaker Azizul Haque Arzu in Pabna-2.
The Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the last six days since December 10 heard and disposed of some 560 appeals filed by aggrieved aspirants against the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers.
Read: Election Commission issues show cause notice to Shakib Al Hasan
Among these, 525 petitions were submitted against the cancellation of nomination papers, while 35 appeals were against the acceptance of nomination papers during the scrutiny, said EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam while briefing reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
“Out of 525 appeals, the commission accepted some 280 petitions,” he said.
Among 35 other petitions, five were accepted scrapping the candidacy of five aspirants, according to the EC's spokesman.
So, now the number of valid contestants has stood 2,260 in the 12th parliamentary election.
Earlier, a total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independents submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th national election.
But the returning officers accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4.
Read: No pressure on Election Commission from Western countries: Ahsan Habib
Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election, which is being boycotted by major party BNP and some others.
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.
Read more: Onus for participatory election not on Election Commission, says commissioner