The Election Commission (EC) yesterday accepted the nomination papers of five candidates for the mayoral post in the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) poll scheduled for July 30. The candidates are: AHM Khairuzzaman Liton of the Awami League (AL), Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul of the BNP, Wasikur Rahman Dolon of the Jatiya Party, Habibur Rahman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Shafiqul Islam of the Islami Andolan. The EC, however, rejected the nomination papers of an independent candidate, Murad Murshed, allegedly for attaching the fake signatures of his supporters.

All the candidates had submitted their nomination papers on June 28. On the first day of nomination paper scrutiny of the candidates for the mayoral post in the Barishal City Corporation (BCC) poll, the nomination papers of two mayor candidates were cancelled due to specific reasons, said Mujibur Rahman, returning officer of the scheduled BCC election.

The mayoral candidates whose nominations were rejected are: Iqbal Hosen Tapos of the Jatiya Party and Bashir Ahmed Jhunu, an independent aspirant.

The returning officer said Iqbal Hosen was a bank loan defaulter and Bashir Ahmed submitted a false name as his supporter.

“Following the election code of conduct, we declared cancelled both the nomination papers. At present, six out of eight are in the race for the mayor post of the BCC. They are: Serniabat Sadik Amdullah of the AL, Mujibor Rahman Sarwar of the BNP, Manisha Chakraborty of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, AK Azad of the CPB, Mawlana Obaidur Rahman Mahbub of Islami Andolon and AKM Mahbub Alam o Khelafat Andolon,” said a source in the EC.

No nomination papers filed for general counsellors’ posts and reserved women counsellors for wards 1–15 had been cancelled till now, said Mujibur Rahman.

The nomination papers of counsellors and reserved counsellors of wards 16–30 will be scrutinised today (Monday).

Both Iqbal Hosen and Bashir Ahmed, whose nomination papers have been cancelled, said they would challenge the decision in the court after getting a copy of the official order.

Mujibur Rahman said that the two candidates could always challenge the EC's decision in accordance with the announced schedule of appeal against such decisions from July 3 to July 5 and get a verdict between July 6 and July 8. The nomination papers can be withdrawn on July 9 and symbols would be distributed on July 10. The BCC has 40 councillor seats, including 10 reserved for women. The corporation covers an area of 58 sq km. The present number of voters is 242,166. Of them, 121,432 are men and 120,730 women.

The candidates will not be able to officially begin their poll campaigns before the allocation of their respective election symbols.