A total 84 candidates, who have been disqualified from contesting the 11th general election, appealed against the decision of Election Commission till Monday.
The commission on Sunday examined total 3,065 nomination papers and rejected 786 of them due to several issues, such as lack of information, false information, criminal and loan default charges.
On the other hand, 2,279 candidates – both independents and leaders from different political parties – were given the green light to contest the much discussed polls, slated for December 30.
The appeals process started on Monday, and will continue till Wednesday, according to commission officials.
While appealing, a complainant will have to mention the date their candidacy was rejected, list the reasons for the rejection, and provide an attested copy of the order issued by the respective returning officer.
The commission, which has the appellate jurisdiction, will hear the appeals between Thursday and Saturday and take final decisions, said the commission’s Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.
If the decision to reject a candidacy is upheld during the hearing, the appellant will be able move to the court.
However, the deadline to withdraw candidature is December 9.
The electoral symbols will be allocated among the candidates the next day, following which they will be allowed to begin their campaigns to woo the voters.
Throughout Monday, 84 candidates had filed their appeals at the commission's Agargaon office in Dhaka.
Also Read- How the EC will decide on the appeals
No appeal, however, was filed on behalf of BNP chief Khaleda Zia whose three sets of nomination papers, submitted from Bogra 6, Bogra 7, and Feni 1 constituencies, were rejected Sunday.
Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin (Chittagong 5); Golam Maula Rony (Patuakhali 3); Khandaker Abu Ashfaq (Dhaka 1); Reza Kibira (Habiganj 1); Imran H Sarker (Kurigram 4); Ashraful Alam aka Hero Alam (Bogra 4); Nawab Mohammad Shamsul Huda (Chapainawabganj 1); Morshed Milton (Bogra 7); Abdul Wadud Bhuiya (Khagrachhari); and Abdul Wahab (Jhenaidah 1) where among the candidates who appealed.
Nasiruddin claimed that the commission had rejected his nomination paper with bad intention. “The returning officer did that facing government pressure.”
“However, I have appealed to the Election Commission, and hopefully my candidacy will get clearance this time,” he said.
Rony’s nomination papers were rejected because he did not sign his affidavit, according to the Patuakhali 3 returning officer.
After filing the appeal Monday, the former Awami League MP, who joined BNP on November 26, told reporters: “The commission had earlier said that nomination papers will not be rejected over minor errors.
“So, I hope my candidacy will be cleared and I will be able to contest the election.”
While talking about the cancellation of his candidacy, individual candidate from Bogra 4 Hero Alam said that he was the victim of a conspiracy. “My candidacy has been cancelled since I have no power. I have been wronged.”
“But I will not stop here. I will appeal against the Election Commission’s decision and fight this conspiracy,” added the actor and model.
According to Bogra 4 returning officer, Alam’s nomination papers were rejected as some of the signatures of 3,500 voters from the constituency he submitted were fakes.
But Alam denied the allegation, saying: “I do not understand. People had willingly signed in the document supporting me. I did not forge any signatures.”