Appeal hearings against the decisions of returning officers over the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election began on Saturday. On the very first day of the hearings, Dr Tasnim Jara, who resigned from the National Citizens Party (NCP), had her candidacy restored. The independent candidate, contesting from the Dhaka-9 constituency, has said she will apply to the Election Commission (EC) for the football symbol as her electoral symbol.
The appeal hearings are being held at the auditorium of the Election Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, with other election commissioners also present.
Speaking after her candidacy was reinstated, Tasnim Jara said, “Our appeal to the Election Commission has been approved. My candidacy has been declared valid. Over the past week, I have gone through a very unusual experience. People at home and abroad have sent their best wishes and prayers. When I spoke to people on the streets, many expressed disappointment and sadness and said they were praying. I thank them all.”
Referring to her preferred electoral symbol, she said, “As an independent candidate, I will be able to apply for a symbol. We will apply through the proper process for our preferred symbol—the football. The final decision will rest with the Election Commission. I would also like to thank the Election Commission for listening to our arguments.”
Tasnim Jara is widely popular on social media. Following the political changes of 5 August, she joined the newly formed NCP and was appointed Senior Joint Member Secretary. She was initially expected to contest the election as an NCP candidate. However, she resigned from the party immediately after the NCP announced an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, and later declared her intention to contest the election as an independent candidate.
She will contest from the Dhaka-9 constituency, which comprises Sabujbagh, Khilgaon, Mugda and Manda police station areas, covering wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The 13th Jatiya Sangsad election will be held on 12 February, alongside a referendum on the same day. Prospective candidates submitted their nomination papers ahead of the polls. After scrutiny, 1,842 nomination papers were declared valid, while 723 were rejected. Appeals against the returning officers’ decisions were filed between 5 and 9 January, during which a total of 645 appeals were submitted to the Election Commission.
Appeal hearings, which began at 10am on Saturday, will continue until 18 January. Hearings for appeals numbered 1 to 70 are being held today. On Sunday, appeals 71 to 140 will be heard, followed by appeals 141 to 210 on Monday and 211 to 280 on Tuesday.
According to the election schedule, appeals will be disposed of between 10 and 18 January. The last date for the withdrawal of candidacy is 20 January. Returning officers will publish the final list of candidates and allocate electoral symbols on 21 January. Election campaigning will begin on 22 January and may continue until 7.30am on 10 February.