Special Correspondent :
At least 84 candidates on Monday filed appeals with the Election Commission (EC) challenging the rejection of their nomination papers for the upcoming National Election.
BNP aspirants Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin (from Chattogram-5), Golam Maula Rony (Patuakhali-3), Khandaker Abu Ashfaq (Dhaka-1) and Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan (Khagrachhari), Gano Forum aspirant Dr Reza Kibira (Habiganj-1) and independent candidate Hero Alam (Bogura-4) were among those who filed appeals with the EC.
The Returning Officers (ROs) rejected 786 nomination papers (out of 3,065) during scrutiny across the country on the grounds of conviction in cases, defaulted loans and non-payment of utility service bills, according to an Election Commission (EC) statement.
They, however, accepted 2,279 nomination papers submitted by the aspirants to contest in the 11th national election scheduled for December 30.
Nomination papers of former Prime Minister and BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia and dozens of political bigwigs were rejected by ROs on Sunday.
The statement said that the aspirants whose nomination papers were rejected on Sunday will have the scope for filing appeals with the EC against the ROs’ decisions by Wednesday. The EC will hold hearing on December 6, 7 and 8 to dispose of the appeals.
“My nomination paper was rejected on weak grounds. The RO rejected my nomination, as my signature was not found in the affidavit. I was a minor mistake… The RO cannot cancel my nomination on this ground,”
Golam Maula Rony, told The New Nation after filing an appeal with the EC on Monday challenging the RO’s decision.
He filed nomination for contesting in the upcoming nation polls from Patuakhali-1 Constituency.
“The aggrieved candidates will be able to file appeal with the EC by 5.00 pm on Wednesday, challenging decisions by the ROs over the cancellation of nomination papers. Even if any candidate is not happy with the decisions of the EC, he or she can also go to court,” EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmad told reporters on Monday at his office.
He said the EC will dispose of the appeals by December 8 following hearings to be held at the EC Secretariat on December 6-8.
The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is December 9, while the electoral symbols will be distributed among candidates on December 10.
The candidates will be allowed to conduct campaign immediately after having received the symbols to woo voters for the December 30 Parliamentary Elections.
