A total of 25 candidates regained their candidacy after appealing to the High Court against the EC's decision to revoke their nominations.
Officials of the Election Commission said that, as of Wednesday, 25 candidates, including 5 new candidates, had approached the High Court.
According to EC sources, 2,716 MP aspirants submitted their nomination papers against 300 seats to participate in the election. Among them, returning officers declared 1,985 nomination papers valid and 731 nomination papers invalid.
A total of 560 candidates applied to the EC from December 5 to December 9 to reclaim their nominations. The EC heard appeals from December 10 to 15.
After the final hearing, the commission approved 285 applications in the last six days and rejected the applications of 275 candidates on various grounds. Later, many of the disqualified MP aspirants filed writs in the High Court challenging the EC's decision.
Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan constituted two separate benches in the High Court to hear the writs on December 12.
On Wednesday, EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told Dhaka Tribune: "A total of 731 were rejected by the returning officers, which is around 27% of the total nomination papers filed."
He added,: "Any candidate can regain his candidacy up to the day before the election if the ancillary criteria are correct. The number of independents is higher among them."
Who regained their candidacy?
EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said at least four heavyweights of the Awami League and independent candidates have had their candidacy restored in the last two days.
They are Enamul Haque, the Awami League candidate for Jessore-4 constituency; Alam Ahmed, sister-in-law of Tajuddin Ahmad, the candidate for Gazipur-4 (Kapasia); Shamim Haque, Awami League nominee for Faridpur-3; and independent candidate Muhammad Abul Hossain for Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon).
On the other hand, the candidacy of two candidates was cancelled by the chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, even though the candidacy had been regained by order of the High Court, said the EC official.
They are Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, an independent candidate for Barisal-5, and Awami League candidate Shammi Ahmed for Barisal-4. They will not be able to participate in this election.
Last Monday, 14 Awami League and independent candidates regained their candidacy.
They are Muntakim Ashraf Tutul, independent candidate in Comilla-7 constituency; Abdul Kashem, independent candidate in Feni-3; Mohammad Nashir Haider Karim, independent candidate in Chittagong-5; Md A Mannan Musalli, independent candidate in Rajbari-1 and 2; Nazrul Islam, independent candidate in Mymensingh-5; Naeem Hasan, independent candidate in Comilla-1; Hashan Miah, BNM candidate in Comilla-9; Md Farukul Islam, independent candidate in Kurigram-4; and SM Abu Mustafa, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) candidate in Tangail-4.
