FE REPORT
A total of 42 appeals against the decision on electoral nomination papers were filed with Election Commission (EC) on the first day as the process began on Monday.
Of the total, 41 appeals were filed against the returning officers' decision rejecting the nomination papers, while, one appeal was lodged against a valid candidate in the Cumilla region.
The EC is receiving the appeals over the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election through 10 temporary booths set up at its premises in the ccapital's Agargaon area.
As per the election schedule, any aggrieved candidate, bank, financial institution, government agency, or any person duly authorised by a candidate may file an appeal within the stipulated time until 5:00 pm of January 9 (Friday).
A total of 1,842 nomination papers were found valid, while 723 were rejected in 300 parliamentary constituencies, an EC notification signed by Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing and Convener of the Central Coordination Committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election ASM Humayun Kabir revealed on Sunday.
The appeals will be processed between January 10 and January 18.
Visiting the booths, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin said the environment for the upcoming election has so far been satisfactory.
"The election environment is good. We are confident about conducting a free and fair election," the CEC told journalists after inspecting booths.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the EC urged the all stakeholders and candidates not to run electoral campaign before the timeline set by the Commission.
"The Election Commission (EC) urged all stakeholders, including electoral candidates, to conduct their campaigns after the allocation of electoral symbols on January 21." said the statement.
Sent by EC Secretariat Director of public relations department Ruhul Amin Mollik, the statement also said candidates must conclude their campaigns at least 48 hours before polling begins on February 12.
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