As the scrutiny of nomination forms for the January 7 polls ends today, election officials across the country rejected the candidacy of at least 266 candidates till Sunday afternoon.
Among them, whose election bid was scrapped on Sunday, are Dhallywood actor Sharmin Akter Nipa, popularly known as Mahiya Mahi, in Rajshahi-1, Youtuber Ashraful Hossen Alom, aka Hero Alom, in Bogra-4, singer Doly Sayontoni in Pabna-2, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh candidate Mahi B Chowdhury in Munshiganj-1, Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman for Kishoreganj-2, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Secretary General Abdul Mannan for Noakhali-4, and Mokabbir Khan for Sylhet-2. Hero Alom vowed to challenge the EC’s decision today.
On the other hand, Awami League candidates whose nominations were rejected are Shammi Ahmed, sitting MP Pangkaj Deabnath for Barisal-4, MP Mamunur Rashid Kiron for Noakhali-6, and Barisal city unit General Secretary Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah.
The nomination paper of the Awami League candidate in Cox's Bazar-1, Salauddin Ahmed, was cancelled. However, Kalyan Party Chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim's nomination paper was declared valid.
Meanwhile, the decision over the eligibility of Jatiya Party Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader to run for the Patuakhali-1 constituency was put on hold.
In a bizarre turn of events, Abdul Ali Bepari, a candidate for Manikganj-1, burst into tears and rolled on the ground as his nomination was scrapped.
A total of 2,741 nomination forms were submitted by candidates from 30 out of 44 registered parties for the January 7 parliamentary polls.
