EC gives green-signal to 41 contestants on third day of appeal hearings

FE REPORT

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday approved 41 more appeals giving green signals to the electoral candidates to vie for the 13th national election slated for 12 February.

With these, a total of 150 individuals have got back their electoral candidacies in three days-from Saturday to Monday-- of appeal hearings against returning officers' decisions on nomination papers. The EC is holding the hearings at auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area which will continue until January 18.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin along with Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmad, Brig. Gen. Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (Retd.) and EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed conducted the hearings.

A total of 24 appeals were rejected on Monday while four appeals were kept pending for hearing again.

A total of 70 appeals were scheduled for Monday's hearings. However, one hearing was not held for a candidate from Pabna-2 constituency since the election there has been postponed.

Besides, Chattogram-5 independent candidate Shakila Farzana withheld her appeal.

The Election Commission approved the appeal of Mymensignh-4 candidate Hamidul Islam, representing National Peoples Party, from the pending list.

Of the significant candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami's AKM Fazlul Haque's appeal on nomination papers for the Chattogram-9 constituency was rejected.

Hearings on 70 more appeals will be held today (Tuesday).

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