1ST DAY OF EC APPEAL HEARING
Candidature of 80 nominees cleared
STAFF REPORTER, Dhaka
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday restored the candidatures of 80 nominees by accepting their appeals but rejected 78 and withheld two other while disposing of 160 appeals on the first day of hearing on the appeals yesterday. With this, the major opposition BNP got back its single candidates each in four constituenciesBagura-7, Jamalpur-4, Manikganj-2 and Dhaka-1where the party had no valid candidate after scrutiny of the nomination papers by the respective returning officers on December 2.
The appeals of BNPs jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia for Feni-1, Bogura-6 and Bogura-7 constituencies are yet to be settled. The EC cleared the candidatures of BNP leaders Morshed Milton for Bagura-7, Faridul Kabir Talukder (Shamim) for Jamalpur-4, Abidur Rahman Khan for Manikganj-2 and Khandaker Abu Ashfaq of Dhaka-1 after hearing their petitions.
During scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning officers on Sunday, all BNP aspirants lost their candidature in six constituenciesSunamganj-3, Manikganj-2, Jamalpur-4, Pabna-1, Bagura-7 and Dhaka-1while AL aspirants in three constituenciesKurigram-4, Satkhira-1 and Narayanganj-3.
Among the former lawmakers and opposition stalwarts who got back their candidatures include Golam Maula Rony of BNP for Patuakhali-3, Major (Retd) Akhteruzzaman of BNP for Kishoreganj-2, Md Selim Bhuiyan of BNP for Dhaka-5, Abdul Majid of BNP for Jhenaidah-2, Afsar Ali of JSD for Satkhira-2, Md Mahbub Alam and Joynal Abedin of Jatiya Party for Gazipur-2, Jesmin Noor Baby of Jatiya Party for BRahmanbaria-6, Mostafa Selim Bengal of Jatiya Party for Rangpur-4, SM Shafiqul Alam Mona of BNP for Khulna-6, Jubayer Ahmed of Islami Front for Habiganj-1, Independent candidate Foyzul Monir Chowdhury of Jamaat for Sylhet-5, Farhad Hossain of BNP for Panchagarh-2 and Ataur Rahman of BNP
for Manikganj-3 constituencies. Besides, the EC rejected the appeals of Wadud Bhuiyan for Khagrachari, Mizanur Rahman for Feni-1, Dr Mizanul Haque for Kishoreganj-3, Abu Sayed Mohiuddin for Mymensingh-4, Emdadul Haque for Mymensingh-2, SM Ershaduzzaman and Birendranath Saha for Natore-1, Aiyub Khan and Abdul Mohit for Bogura-3, Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alam for Bogura-4 and SM Mojibur Rahman for Satkhira-1 constituencies.
The appellate authority withheld the candidature of Md Kamruzzaman Swadhin for Jhenaidah-3 and Mir Mohammed Nasir for Chattogram-5 constituencies. Appeal of Shah Kutubuddin Talukder for Netrakona-1 was rejected as he was absent from the hearing.
The appellate authority, headed by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, started its three-day hearing at the commission at 10am over petitions filed against the decisions of the returning officers over the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers in different constituencies. All the Election Commissioners took part in the hearing.
On the first day, the EC disposed of 160 appeals out of 543 petitions, while it would complete hearing on the rest of the appeals today and tomorrow. The authority is giving its verdict soon after the hearing of an appeal.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday thanked the EC for clearing the candidature of many of the partys aspirants.
Talking to reporters at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias political office in Gulshan, he also expressed the hope that Khaleda Zia would be a valid candidate for the forthcoming general elections.
Many aspirants have been cleared as candidates I thank the EC as they did justice. It is also proved that the aspirants did not get justice where the EC gave responsibility to the returning officers, he added.
A total of 543 aggrieved aspirants filed petition with the EC against the decisions of the returning officers as their nomination papers had been rejected on various grounds.
According to schedule, the 11th parliamentary polls will be held on December 30, while the last date for withdrawal of candidatures and the EC to distribute poll symbol among the candidates on December 10.
A total of 3,065 aspirants of different political parties including the ruling Awami League and its arch rival the BNP and submitted nomination papers till the last date for submitting nomination papers on November 28 to contest the 11th parliamentary polls.
The returning officers on Sunday had cancelled 786 nomination papers including three nomination papers of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on various grounds.
According to the factsheet of the Election Commission Secretariat, a total of 2,279 nomination papers were declared valid and 786 invalid during the scrutiny by 66 returning officers across the country.
Some 3,065 aspirants submitted nomination papers in the countrys 300 constituencies within the deadline that expired on November 30 to take part in the national election slated for December 30.
Of the total aspirants, 281 probable AL candidates submitted nomination papers in 264 constituencies, while 696 BNP contestants in 295 parliamentary seats, 233 Jatiya Party aspirants in 210 constituencies. Besides, 498 independent aspirants also submitted their nomination papers.
BNP fielded more than one candidate in most of the constituencies, while the AL in 17 and Jatiya Party in 23 constituencies.
SC asks official to scrutinise accept Mirza Abbass nomination within 24 hours
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (Thursday) asked the returning officer (RO) concerned to accept the nomination papers of BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, after scrutinising it, within 24 hours.
The seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, came up with the order after disposing of the appeal petition filed by the state. It also asked the district returning officer to get him a scope so that he can appeal against any order that is announced.
Earlier, on December 4, the High Court (HC) directed the authorities concerned to accept the nomination papers of BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas and complete the scrutiny within 24 hours.
In response to a writ petition, the HC benchcomprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kaderdirected the returning officer of Dhaka-9 constituency to complete the scrutiny of the nomination papers of Mirza Abbas within 24 hours.
The HC bench also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the refusal to accept Abbass nomination papers should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench came up with the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Abbas challenging the decision of the Election Commission (EC) that refused to accept his nomination.
Advocate Zainul Abedin and advocate Ehsanur Rahman stood for the petitioner.
HC directs scrutiny of 3 candidates papers within 12 hours
A High Court bench yesterday (Thursday) asked the returning officers (ROs) of the respective constituencies to scrutinise the nomination papers of three candidates after accepting those.
They are: Gana Forum candidates MD Azharul Islam of Kishoreganj-1 constituency and M Shafiur Rahman Khan Bacchu of Kishoreganj-2 constituency and Independent candidate Sadakat Khan Fakkur of Dhaka-16 constituency.
The HC bench, comprising Justice Tariq Ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi, asked the officials concerned to comply with the order within 12 hours.
The candidates had filed separate writs with the HC as the returning officers did not accept their nomination papers on November 28.
Barrister Motahar Hossain and Raju Uddin Sarwar stood for the two Gano Forum candidates while Barrister Imran A Siddiq appeared for Fakkur.
