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Published : 10 Jan 2026, 07:56 PM
On the opening day of appeal hearings at the Election Commission, 51 candidates who had challenged returning officers’ disqualification decisions have successfully regained their nominations to run for parliament, while one lost candidacy.
A total of 70 appeal petitions were heard on Saturday at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, all involving objections to returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers.
Four election commissioners attended the hearing presided over by the chief election commissioner.
Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “Of the appeals, 52 were approved, 15 rejected. Two appellants were absent from the hearing and are included in the rejected list. Three applications remain pending.”
Among those who regained candidacy were Jatiya Party’s Hamidur Rahman Azad and independent candidate Tasnim Jara, whose nomination papers had previously been cancelled by returning officers.
Conversely, the appeal against the nomination of independent candidate Syed AK Ekramuzzaman in Brahmanbaria-1 was upheld, overturning the returning officer’s earlier approval and cancelling his candidacy.
The commission also rejected 15 appeals, maintaining the returning officers’ original decisions.
Over 2,500 nomination papers were submitted by party-affiliated and independent candidates. Between Dec 30 and Jan 4, returning officers had cancelled 723 nominations, leaving 1,842 candidates valid.
According to the schedule, the final date for withdrawal of candidacy will be Jan 20, after which the total number of contenders will be confirmed. Symbols will be allocated on Jan 21, campaigning begins Jan 22, and voting is set for Feb 12.
