United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission on Sunday upheld the nomination of BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzel Hossain, popularly known as Kaikobad, allowing him to contest the upcoming parliamentary election from Cumilla-3 constituency. The Commission that acts as the electoral appeal tribunal passed the order on Monday, rejecting an appeal filed against his candidacy by Jamaat candidate Yusuf Sohel on grounds of dual citizenship. The EC, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, heard the appeal on Sunday and kept its order pending for the verification of a document related to denouncement of his Turkish citizenship. Prof Yunus calls for unity for successful election, country’s future The Commission settled all 645 appeals except one against Kaikobad on Sunday, the last day of disposal of the petitions. During the hearing of appeal petitions, three BNP candidates lost their candidacies – Monzurul Ahsan Munshi for Cumilla-4, Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan for Cumilla-10 and Sarowar Alamgir for Chittagong-2. Besides, three other valid candidates including independent aspirant SAK Ekramuzzaman for Brahmanbaria-1 lost their candidacies during the hearing. 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. Then a total of 645 appeals were filed challenging the decision of the returning officers over the acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers during the scrutiny. 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.