EC rejects Khaleda’s appeal
Bangladesh Election Commission on Saturday rejected the appeal of jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia against the returning officers’ rejection of her nomination papers in three constituencies.
The commission gave a spilt order, as Commissioner Mahabub Talukdar accepted the appeal and four other Commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda rejected the appeal.
Khaled’s appeal was rejected based on majority.
The commission earlier accepted the appeal of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas.
The commission declared invalid the nomination of BNP candidate from Chattogram-5 constituency Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin on the last day of hearing petitions against the returning officers’ decision, reports United News of Bangladesh.
The commission resumed its hearing for the last day on Saturday on the petitions filed against the decisions of the returning officers over the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers in different constituencies.
EC was expected to hear and dispose of the remaining 233 petitions on the day,
The commission’s third-day hearing started 10:00am at the Nirbachan Bhaban with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
The returning officers accepted a total of 2,279 nomination papers and cancelled 786 others submitted in the 300 constituencies of the country.
A total of 543 petitions were filed with the EC, the appellate authority, seeking that the decisions of returning officers be overturned.
The commission started its hearing and disposing of the petitions on Thursday.
The EC heard a total of 310 petitions in the first two days.
So far, some 158 aspirants, including BNP's 60, got back their candidatures with the EC's judgment.
If anyone is even aggrieved with the EC's judgment, the person can to go to the High Court seeking redress.
The last date for withdrawal of the candidature is December 9.
In case of multiple candidates in a single constituency, a political party will have to inform the returning officer and the election commission about its final contender for the parliamentary seat by December 9.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
