1,842 candidates declared valid, 723 invalid in 300 constituencies

Bangla Press Desk: The Election Commission (EC) declared 1,842 candidates valid and 723 others invalid across 300 constituencies for the upcoming national election, as the scrutiny of nomination papers ended on Sunday.

According to the EC, as many as 3,406 nomination forms were collected, while 2,568 candidates submitted their nomination papers within the deadline of 29 December.

Of them, 1,842 candidates were declared valid and 723 others invalid, it said.

Besides, the scrutiny process ended without examining three nomination papers submitted in Feni-1, Bogura-7, and Dinajpur-3 constituencies, where late BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had intended to contest the polls, the commission said.

The scrutiny of nomination papers started on 30 December and concluded on 4 January.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has decided to set up 10 booths at Nirbachan Bhaban to receive the appeals from 10 regions (eight divisions and Cumilla and Faridpur regions) from 5 to 9 January.

The commission will settle the appeals by 18 January.

On 11 December, the Election Commission announced the schedule to arrange the 13th national election and the referendum on the July National Charter on 12 February.

The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is 20 January. The election campaign will start on 22 January and continue until 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on 10 February).

BP/SP