A number of candidates were stripped of their candidacy over allegations, including electoral code breaches, loan default and dual citizenship on Tuesday, while four had their candidature upheld. Many others pulled out of the electoral race.
To date, 75 candidacies have been restored by the apex court. The latest restoration of candidature pushed the number of candidates to 1,970. Of them, 414 are vying independently.
The Election Commission (EC) cancelled the candidature of independent candidate Mohammad Habibur Rahman Paban of the Lakshmipur-1 constituency.
This is the first time a candidacy was scrapped for “campaign offences” ahead of the January 7 general election.
Paban was accused of making indecent and objectionable remarks to the Lakshmipur deputy commissioner and the returning officer concerned through a WhatsApp call on December 30.
The Appellate Division rejected a petition filed by independent candidate Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah seeking the revival of his candidacy for the Barisal-5 constituency.
As a result, Sadiq Abdullah will not have the chance to contest in the election.
On December 19, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division stayed the High Court verdict that declared the candidature of independent candidate Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah of the Barisal-5 constituency valid.
Earlier on December 6, the EC cancelled the candidacy of Sadiq Abdullah, also former Barisal mayor, over dual citizenship.
The Appellate Division also rejected a petition filed by Shammi Ahmed, the Awami League candidate for the Barisal-4 constituency, to get back her candidacy.
It means Shammi Ahmed is no longer in the electoral race.
On December 19, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division upheld a High Court order that rejected a writ petition filed by Shammi Ahmed challenging the cancellation of her candidature.
On December 15, the EC also turned down her appeal against the cancellation of her candidacy by the returning officer.
Meanwhile, the hearing on the petition filed by independent candidate AK Azad against the candidature of Boat symbol candidate Shamim Haque in the Faridpur-3 seat was postponed.
Earlier, independent candidate AK Azad appealed against Shamim’s candidacy, citing his dual citizenship.
According to the appeal, Shamim has citizenship of the Netherlands.
The Representation of the People Order, 1972 says that an election candidate cannot hold dual citizenship.
In the capital, Hasibur Rahman Manik, an independent candidate for the Dhaka-7 seat, was stripped of his candidacy by the apex court.
It came as the Appellate Division yesterday scrapped a previous High Court order on allowing him to take part in the election and allocating him a symbol.
Hasib, who is also councillor of Dhaka South City Corporation Ward No 26, was accused of loan defaulting.
The EC rejected his nomination on December 4 during scrutiny. His challenge at the EC over the decision was also turned down. After that, the High Court returned him candidacy on December 20.
Candidatures upheld
The apex court upheld the candidature of the independent candidate Alam Ahmed for the Gazipur- 4 constituency rejecting the appeal filed by Awami League nominated candidate Simin Hossain Rimi against his candidacy.
The returning officer cancelled the candidature of Alam Ahmed on charges of being a loan defaulter during the scrutiny.
He later appealed to regain his candidacy. The EC rejected his application to validate his candidacy in the appeal hearing on December 13. Then he filed a writ petition in the High Court in this regard.
On December 18, the High Court dismissed his writ. Later, he appealed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the order. On December 19, the chamber court reinstated Alam Ahmed’s candidacy.
Later on, Rimi moved the Appellate Division to withdraw the order.
In another development, the candidacy of the Awami League candidate for the Jessore-4 constituency, Enamul Haque Babul, was declared valid by the Appellate Division, which rejected petitions in this connection.
Independent candidates Sukriti Kumar Mandal and Ranajit Kumar Roy submitted the petitions to the EC bringing allegations of loan default and seeking cancellation of Enamul’s candidacy.
On December 13, the EC cancelled his candidacy after hearing the appeals in this regard.
Enraged by this, Babul moved the High Court which directly rejected his petition on December 18.
After a hearing, the Appellate Division noted that his candidacy was valid on the following day.
The EC submitted an appeal seeking withdrawal of the Appellate Division’s order.
Also yesterday, the Appellate Division upheld a High Court order to allocate an electoral symbol to an independent candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency, Muhibur Rahman.
The High Court order was challenged by the EC and another candidate.
Additionally, the Supreme Court yesterday upheld its chamber judge's order that allowed Khulna-5 constituency's independent candidate Sk Akram Hossain to contest the election.
The withdrawals
Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate for Dinajpur-2 Mahbubul Alam yesterday withdrew his candidacy.
At a press briefing at the local party office in Birol upazila of the district, Mahbubul alleged that he was embarrassed by questions from local voters about the election. "There is no outside threat or pressure,” he said.
JaPa candidate for Chuadanga-1 constituency, Advocate Sohrab Hossain, pulled out of the polls race, alleging a lack of cooperation from his party and coordination.
Shamsudin Khan, the JaPa candidate for the Gazipur-4 seat, did the same citing personal issues.