Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) today approved 73 more appeals on the fifth day against the order of acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers of the Returning Officers in the upcoming 13th national elections. EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed informed reporters that a total of 100 appeals were heard today, with 73 being approved, 17 rejected, and 10 kept pending.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the EC has so far accepted the hearing of 380 appeals. Out of these, 277 appeals have been approved, 81 either rejected or cancelled, and 23 remain pending for various reasons. In total, 645 appeals have been heard, and the commission will continue to hear appeals until January 18.
The appeal hearings began at 10 a.m. today at the auditorium of Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, the capital. The hearings, conducted by the full commission chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, continued until 5 p.m. with a one-hour break at noon. Today, appeals numbered 281 to 380 were reviewed. Tomorrow, appeals ranging from 381 to 480 as well as pending appeals will be heard from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On January 16, appeals numbered 481 to 510 and pending appeals will be addressed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The appeal hearing process is set to conclude with the hearing of appeals numbered 511 to 610 on January 17, and those from 611 to 645, along with any remaining pending appeals, on January 18. Earlier, Returning Officers or Assistant Returning Officers declared the nomination papers of 1,842 candidates, out of 2,568, as valid.