260 nomination papers cancelled, no candidate in Laxmipur-3
Thirty-three Awami League candidates are going to be elected unopposed as there are no other candidates in their constituencies to contest the 10th parliamentary polls billed for January 5.
Of them, single nomination papers of the ruling party candidates were found valid in 25 constituencies during the two-day scrutiny — on Thursday and Friday — while local election offices received single nomination papers in the rest of the parliamentary seats, sources at the Election Commission Secretariat said.
During the scrutiny, 260 nomination papers were cancelled by returning officers across the country, while no nomination paper was found valid in Laxmipur-3.
There are now 847 valid candidates in 300 constituencies, the lowest in the country’s history. More than 60 constituencies have got two candidates each following the cancellation of nomination papers.
However, the aspirants whose nomination papers were cancelled by the respective returning officers (ROs) can appeal to the appellate authority (Election Commission) against the decision of the ROs by December 9.
The 25 AL candidates whose nomination papers stand valid are ABM Muhith (Sylhet-1), Obaidul Quader (Noakhali-5), Surangit Sengupta (Sunamganj-2), Dr Dipu Moni (Chandpur-3), Syed Ashraful Islam (Kishoreganj-1), Raziuddin Ahmad Raju (Narsingdi-5), Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain (Faridpur-3), Md Abdur Rahman (Faridpur-1), Abul Kalam Azad (Natore-1), Shafiqul Islam Shimul (Natore-2), Zunaid Ahmed Palak (Natore-3), Sheikh Helal (Bagerhat-1), Mir Shawkat Ali (Bagerhat-2), Omor Faruk (Rajshahi-1), Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Mrinal Kanti Das (Munshiganj-3), AKMA Awal (Pirojpur-1), Jahid Ahsan Rashel (Gazipur-2), Muazzem Hossain Ratan (Sunamganj-1), Prof Ali Ashraf (Comilla-7), AHM Mostafa Kamal Lotus (Comilla-10), Nizamuddin Hazari (Feni-2), Hasan Mahmud (Chittagong-7), AHN Ashikur Rahman (Rangpur-5) and Ishak Hossain Talukder (Sirajganj-3).
If the valid candidates do not withdraw their candidature by December 13 deadline, they will be declared elected uncontested.
In eight other constituencies, only eight Awami League filed the nominations by December 2, the deadline for submission of nomination papers.
They are Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir (Chandpur-1), Sheikh Afiluddin (Jessore-1), Amanur Rahman Rana (Tangail-3), Redwan Ahmed Tawfik (Kishoreganj-4), Vice Principal Abdus Shahid (Mulvibazar-4), Morshed Alam (Noakhali-2), Momtaz Begum (Manikganj-2) and Nuruzzaman Ahmed (Lalmonirhat-2).
According to the RPO, the single candidates will be declared elected uncontested after the deadline for withdrawal of candidature expires.
As per the EC secretariat statistics, 1,107 aspirants submitted their nomination papers to run the election amid opposition BNP’s boycott.
In the 1996 February one-sided general election, 49 candidates were elected uncontested.
Source: UNB Connect
