SC allows 10 nominees to run in polls

The apex court has directed the Election Commission to allow 10 candidates of two factions of Gonotantri Party, an ally of the Awami League-led 14-party combine, to contest the January 07 general election.
Justice M Enayetur of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court passed the order on Wednesday following two separate petitions regarding this issue.
He also ordered the election watchdog to allocate the same symbol for the contestants of Gonotantri Party, said barrister Ashfaqur Rahman who stood for the EC in the hearing.
The EC filed a petition challenging a High Court (HC) order that stayed the
former's decision of cancelling the candidacies of all Gonotantri Party aspirants on December 18. The HC also directed the EC to allow seven candidates nominated by a Gonotantri Party faction, led by barrister Md Arash Ali, to stay in the election race.
Another petition was submitted by Shahadat Hossain, the leader of another faction, seeking permission from the SC for its three candidates to contest the polls.
The Arash-nominated candidates are Bhupendra Chandra Bhoumick (Kishoreganj-01), Ashraf Ali (Kishoreganj-02), Delwar Hossain Bhuiyan (Kishoreganj-03), Mozzammel Hossain Bhuiyan (Nilphamiari-03), Mihir Ranjan Das (Sunamganj-02), Khairul Alam (Pabna-03) and Matiur Rahman (Khulna-02).
On the other hand, the Shahadat-nominated candidates are Shahadat Hossain (Dhaka-08, Monjurul Islam (Bogura-04) and Hafizur Rahman Mintu (Dhaka-05).
Lawyer Momtazuddin Fakir, who represented Mr Arash in the hearing, said the EC on December 12 cancelled the candidacies of the aspirants on some grounds.
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