Record 27% nominations scrapped with  more bigshots rejected

• 26.91% of nominations declared invalid
• Most of the eliminated candidates are independents 
• Appeal for reviewing nominations to be disposed of between 10-15 Dec
• Total 2,716 nominations were submitted to EC
• 1,985 candidates' nominations declared valid

On the last day of the verification of nomination papers, the Election Commission has cancelled approximately 27% of nominations, with several heavyweight aspirants being denied candidacy from various parties, including the ruling Awami League. 

Out of 2,716 nominations submitted to the commission, 1,985 candidates were declared valid to contest the upcoming national elections, as disclosed by EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath on Monday.

The highest number of cancellations occurred in Cumilla, with 120 nominations rejected, while Faridpur had the lowest at 23. 

The cancellations were attributed to reasons such as loan default, providing incorrect information, submitting incomplete forms, lacking an income tax certificate, missing the signature of the identifier, and failing to include the necessary affidavit.

The number of cancellations is at a record high for the forthcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections scheduled for 7 January. 

In the 2018 election, 25.64% of nominations were cancelled, following 20.78% in the 2014 polls, 22.68% in the 2008 polls, 4.37% in the 2001 polls, 3.65% in the 1996 polls, 1.45% in the 1991 polls, 2.32% in the 1988 polls, 0.34% in the 1979 polls, and 0.33% in the 1973 polls.

Heavyweights cancelled

The AL's nominee for Barisal-4 and the party's international affairs secretary, Shammi Ahmed's nomination, has been cancelled after repeated complaints. 

The nomination of Pankaj Nath, the current Member of Parliament and an independent candidate for the same seat, has been cleared. 

On Sunday, Pankaj Nath accused Shammi Ahmed of having dual citizenship. Similarly, Shammi Ahmed accused Pankaj Nath of concealing the ownership of Bihanga Paribahan, which operates on various routes in Dhaka, in the affidavit.

In Lakshmipur-4, the nomination of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Secretary General Major (retd) Abdul Mannan for the Lakshmipur-4 constituency has been cancelled due to allegations of loan defaults. 

On Sunday, the returning officer declared the nomination papers from his other constituency Noakhali-4 invalid on the same grounds. Abdul Mannan did not pay a tax of Tk3.29 crore. Apart from this, his loans in various banks have been considered as defaulters.

In Noakhali-3, the returning officer also cancelled the nomination of the incumbent and AL candidate Mamunur Rashid Kiran due to this loan default. 

In Cox's Bazar-1, the AL candidate Salahuddin Ahmed's nomination has been cancelled due to a loan default. However, the nomination paper of Bangladesh Welfare Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim has been declared valid.

In Chattogram-1, nomination of independent candidate and former chairman of Mirsarai Upazila Parishad Ghiyas Uddin has been cancelled. 

In Cumilla-1, the nomination of Daudkandi Upazila Awami League president and independent candidate Naeem Hasan was cancelled. 

In Chapainawabganj-1 (Shivganj), independent candidate and District AL Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam has been denied candidacy.

In Rangpur-6, the nomination of upazila AL general secretary party's independent candidate Sirajul Islam has been cancelled. The party nominated current Speaker of parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the seat. 

In Sylhet-2, the nomination of Biswanath Municipal Mayor Muhibur Rahman, the AL's independent candidate, was cancelled.

In Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's Narail-2, independent candidate Syed Faizul Amir Litu, former General Secretary of Lohagara Upazila Awami League, has been disqualified due to discrepancies in supporting voters' signatures and non-completion of the form.

The nomination of Dhaka South AL's organising secretary and independent candidate Golam Sarwar Kabir has been cancelled for Munshiganj-1. 

In Rajshahi-1, independent candidates of AL Golam Rabbani, Akhter-Uz-Zaman Akhter, Ayesha Akter Dalia, Sharmin Akter Nipa (Mahiya Mahi) were declared as invalid.

The nomination paper of Bikalpa Dhara candidate Mahi Badruddoza Chowdhury from Munshiganj-1 over allegations of defaulting loans.

Former Member of Parliament and Party Presidium member SM Abdul Mannan of Manikganj-2 constituency and Zahirul Alam Rubel of Manikganj-1 and Manikganj-3 constituencies have been cancelled due to loan default.

On the other hand, the candidate of Manikganj-1 constituency Hasan Saeed, the general secretary of the district Jatiya Party, has been cancelled due to the outstanding gas bill of the house.

In Sylhet-2, the nominations of Jatiya Party's Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury and National People's Party (NPP) Md Manowar Hossain were suspended.

Also, other noteworthy rejections include Salahuddin Ahmed, AL candidate in Cox's Bazar-1; Jhalkathi-1 incumbent Bazlul Haque Haroon, co-chairman of Jatiya Party ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader; Pabna musician Dolly Sayantani; actress Mahiya Mahi; and Bangladesh Congress Party Candidate Ashraful Hossain aka Hero Alam.

Despair among the rejected 

Independent candidate Esken Ali Chowkidar broke down in tears upon learning that his nomination for the Natore-1 seat was canceled on Monday. He failed to provide the required affidavit containing the signatures of 1% of voters in the seat.

Esken expressed his frustration, saying, "I don't understand the election rules. I misheard the number of signatures needed, and no one corrected me. It was not my fate."

Abdul Ali Bepari, who had previously lost his security deposit in the Union Parishad polls three times, submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the first time in the National Assembly elections in the Manikganj-1 seat.

Bepari was wailing on the floor upon learning that his nomination was rejected. Later, law enforcement officials arrived, pacified him, and advised him to appeal to regain his candidature.

Speaking to reporters, Bepari said, "How will I show the face of my voters now? I don't wanna survive. I request Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to give me my nomination so that I can live."

Appeals from Tuesday

The scrutiny of nominations concluded on Monday, and the appeal process starts on Tuesday. 

To facilitate this phase, ten booths corresponding to ten regions have been installed in Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka to receive appeals from the aspirants until 9 December. 

The disposal of appeals will take place between 10 and 15 December, with the Election Commission planning to hear and resolve approximately 100 appeals per day.