On the first day of scrutiny, the Election Commission yesterday cancelled the nomination papers of three BNP-backed mayoral aspirants, two from Jatiya Party and 12 independent candidates.
The aspirants will get the scope to appeal against the decisions by December 10.
A total of 1,223 mayoral candidates filed nomination papers across the country to contest the December 30 municipality elections. Moreover, 2,668 applications were submitted for reserved (women) councillor post and 9,798 for the general councillor positions.
The returning officers are set to complete the scrutiny of the nomination papers today.
The three BNP-backed mayoral aspirants whose candidatures were rejected yesterday are Sarwarul Abedin in Chhengarchar municipality of Chandpur, Fazlur Rahman in Feni municipality and Mustafizur Rahman in Parshuram municipality of Feni.
Sarwar’s nomination paper was turned down due to lack of necessary documents and flaws in some documents submitted to the election office. The returning officer of Feni also cancelled the nomination paper of independent candidate Atiqul Alam.
In Kushtia, the scrutiny of nomination papers in four municipalities, out of five, was completed yesterday. Three mayoral candidates, out of seven, in Kushtia municipality got their nominations cancelled. They are KM Zahid of Jatiya Party, Dewan Abdul Khalek of Islami Shasontontro Andolon and independent candidate Shamimul Hasan Apu, who is known as a BNP rebel.
The nomination papers of another BNP rebel, Saiful Haque Khan, of Mirpur municipality, and independent candidate Ali Asgar of Bheramara municipality were also scrapped.
In Rajshahi, the nomination papers of three independent mayoral candidates in Aarani municipality were trashed. They are Nazrul Islam (sitting mayor and known as BNP rebel), Abdul Matin (known as Awami League rebel) and Masud Parvez.
With the cancellation of candidatures of the three BNP aspirants, two municipalities – Chhengarchar and Parshuram – have got single candidates against the mayoral posts. For this, the ruling Awami League-nominated candidates are set to be declared elected unopposed.
If the appellate authorities uphold the decisions of the returning officers, the Election Commission will have to declare the two ruling party mayoral aspirants elected uncontested after the December 13 deadline for the withdrawal of candidatures.