United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission on Monday (January 12, 2026) allowed 41 previously rejected aspirants to contest the February-12 national election after hearings, while a Jamaat candidate for Chattogram-9 was declared invalid and a BNP aspirant for Sherpur-2 was kept pending. But the EC as the Electoral Appeal Tribunal turned down the appeal petitions of 24 other aspirants, including Jamaat-e-Islami aspirant Dr AKM Fazlul Haque (Chattogram-9), while the petition of BNP aspirant Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury (Sherpur-2) was kept pending to be settled later. The Election Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, heard the appeal petitions at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Monday. “The Commission granted 41 petitions, rejected 24 others, kept four petitions pending to be settled later, " said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik. Bangladesh Election: EU Chief Observer clarifies ‘inclusive, participatory’ meaning Besides, one petition filed by aspirant of Pabna-2 was postponed as the election to the constituency remains suspended and another petition filed by independent aspirant Shakila Farzana (Chattogram-5) was not pressed for hearing, while the petition of independent aspirant Shakila Farzana (Chattogram-5) was not pressed for hearing. With the 41 aspirants who got green lights on Monday, a total of 150 aspirants returned to the electoral race since the EC on Saturday started hearing the appeal petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants against the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers during the scrutiny. During the appeal hearing, one independent candidate SAK Ekramuzzaman lost his candidacy following an appeal filed by his rival in Brahmanbaria-1 constituency. Besides, 46 other invalid aspirants failed to return to the race as the EC rejected their appeal petitions in the three days. On Monday, the EC rejected the petition of Jamaat’s aspirant Dr AKM Fazlul Haque (Chattogram-9) on dual citizenship. With the decision, there is no Jamaat nominated candidate to run in the election from Chattogram-9 constituency. The Commission kept the petition of BNP aspirant Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury (Sherpur-2) pending to be settled on January 16. Saturday’s EC hearing brings 51 candidates back into election race In the constituency, two BNP aspirants – Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury and Md Elius Khan—submitted nomination papers, but both nomination papers were declared invalid by the returning officer during the scrutiny. In Sherpur-2, there are now two valid candidates – Jamaat’s Golam Kibria and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Abdullah Al Kayes. The 41 aspirants who returned to the race on Monday include three Jatiya Party aspirants Mohammad Mamunur Rashid (Tangail-6), AKM Fazlul Haque (Jamalpur-1) and Abdur Rashid (Satkhira-4), four AB Party aspirants Abdul Baset (Rangpur-5), Kefayet Hossain (Lakshmipur-2), Abdur Rahman (Chattogram-7) and Muhammad Rafiqul Islam (Manikganj-3), NCP aspirant Sohel Rana (Meherpur-1). The rejected 24 aspirants include Jatiya Party nominated Mohammad Jahangir Alam (Sunamganj-5) and SM Abdul Mannan (Manikganj-2). The EC will hear and dispose of a total of 645 petitions by January 18, which were filed by aggrieved aspirants, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers. This time a majority of aspirants who challenged the rejection of their nomination papers have regained eligibility to contest the 13th parliamentary election, as the EC adopted a lenient approach towards minor errors and unintentional mistakes found in nomination documents and affidavits. A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to run the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies within the December-29 deadline. EC suspends Pabna-1, Pabna-2 elections until further court order The 69 returning officers- – two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), 64 district deputy commissioners and three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna)— declared 1,842 nomination papers valid, while 723 others invalid during the scrutiny from December 30 to January 04. Since BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away, her three nomination papers submitted for three constituencies were not scrutinized. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the polls schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026. According to the schedule, the late date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till (7:30am on February 10) 48 hours before the balloting period.  

In a boost for their hopes ahead of Bangladesh’s national election, 51 aspirants regained their candidacies on Saturday (January 10, 2026), including independent candidate Tasnim Jara from Dhaka-9 and Jamaat-e-Islami’s AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad from Cox’s Bazar-2. The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, declared them valid candidates, hearing the appeal petitions filed by them, at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. “A total of 52 appeal petitions were accepted, while 15 other rejected and the rest three ones remain pending,” said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed after the first-day hearing of the petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants against the decisions of the returning officers over the nomination papers. Among the 52 granted petitions, one appeal was submitted by a BNP candidate for Brahmanbaria-1 MA Hannan, challenging the acceptance of the nomination paper of an independent candidate in his constituency. Read more: Tasnim Jara regains candidacy in appeal for Dhaka-9 With the EC’s decision, independent candidate SAK Ekramuzzaman lost his candidature. A total of 645 aspirants filed appeal petitions with the Election Commission before the deadline expired on Friday, challenging returning officers’ decisions on the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers. Most of the petitions were submitted against the cancellation of nomination papers during the scrutiny. The Election Commission will hear and dispose of all the petitions by January 18. Tasnim Jara to seek ‘Football’ as electoral symbol: Regaining the candidature, Tasnim Jara in an instant reaction told reporters “The appeal I submitted to the Election Commission has been accepted. As an independent candidate for Dhaka-9, my nomination paper has been declared valid.” Describing the past week as a different experience, Tasnim Jara said she received overwhelming support and prayers from people both at home and abroad. “When I spoke to people on the streets, many expressed disappointment and pain, but also offered prayers (for me),” she said, thanking everyone involved in the struggle. The independent candidate said she would now apply for an election symbol. “As an independent candidate, we will apply for our preferred symbol — the football. The final decision will rest with the Election Commission,” she said, extending thanks to the EC for listening to their arguments. “Above all, we firmly believe that with public support we will be able to contest the upcoming election,” said Tasnim Jara. Earlier, the 69 returning officers – two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), 64 district deputy commissioners and three regional election commissioners (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna) – declared that the nomination papers of a total of 1,842 candidates valid and that of 723 others invalid during the five-day nomination paper scrutiny from December 30 to January 04. During the scrutiny, the nomination paper of Tasnim Jara for Dhaka-9 was rejected on ground of inconsistency in the required 1% of voter signatures to qualify for nomination, while that of Hamidur Rahman candidate for Cox’s Bazar-2 (Maheshkhali-Kutubdia) was turned down due to case related issues. A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers for the country’s 300 constituencies by the December-29 deadline to contest the 13th parliamentary election. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the election schedule to arrange the national election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026. Read more: Cox's Bazar-2: Jamaat’s Hamidur Rahman Azad gets candidacy back According to the schedule, the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).