Dhaka-15: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur's nomination declared valid

The nomination of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has been declared as valid to contest in the Dhaka-15 constituency for the national election.

Returning Officer Md Yunus Ali announced the decision after scrutinising the nomination papers today. 

The party issued a press release today signed by Mujibul Alam, senior assistant of Jamaat's central publicity department, stating, "Shafiqur Rahman has submitted his nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election as a candidate for the Dhaka-15 constituency. His nomination papers have been accepted as valid following scrutiny."

At the same time, the nomination of BNP candidate Safiqul Islam Khan Milton was also found valid.

The nomination of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) candidate Ahmmad Sajedul Huq Rubel has been rejected.

According to him, out of nine candidates in the constituency, five nominations have been declared valid, three rejected and one pending.

Md Yunus Ali said nominations of Jamaat's Shafiqur, BNP's Shafiqul, Bangladesh JaSad's Md Ashfaqur Rahman, Janata party's Khan Shoaib Amanullah and Gono Forum's AKM Shafiqul Islam were accepted as all required documents were in order and there were no objections against them.

He said the nomination papers of CPB candidate Rubel, Bangladesh Supreme Party's Mobarak Hossain and independent candidate Tanzil Islam were rejected due to improper party nomination documents.

Yunus Ali said CPB candidates submitted certification from the party's current committee, headed by President Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan and General Secretary Abdullah Kafi Ratan. However, the Election Commission records still list the previous committee led by Shah Alam and Ruhin Hossain Prince, which has not yet been updated.

CPB candidate Rubel said the current committee was formed in October last year and the information had been updated with the commission. 

"Even on Saturday morning, the party president and general secretary met the Election Commission secretary. I hope the issue will be resolved during the appeal process," he added.

Meanwhile, a decision on the nomination of Jatiya Party candidate Shamsul Haque has been deferred due to pending case-related information.

According to the election schedule announced by the Election Commission, appeals against the returning officer's decisions can be filed from 5 to 9 January. Appeals will be heard from 10 to 18 January.

The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is 20 January, while the final list of candidates and symbol allocation will be published on 21 January. 

Election campaigning will begin on 22 January and continue until 7:30am on 10 February. Voting is scheduled to be held on 12 February.