Dhaka Dec 23 – The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday quashed the appeal for the cancellation of the alleged 25 Jamaat-i-Islami candidates allowing them to contest the polls.“As the returning officers have allocated the electoral symbols to the alleged 25 Jamaat candidates, the EC has no scope now to cancel their nominations,” EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said.
The secretary came up with the announcement before the journalists at a press conference at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
The High Court on December 18 directed the Commission to dispose of the application filed for cancelling the candidacy of 25 Jamaat-e-Islami men by three working days.
Four writ petitioners, including Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Secretary General Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the Jamaat leaders’ nominations.
Accordingly, EC at its full commission meeting came up with the decision by retaining their candidacy as they have been allocated election symbols by returning officers so they can contest the polls.
On Saturday, Bangladesh Nationalist Party Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told the journalist that there were no Jamaat candidates in the 11th parliamentary polls.
He said, “The allegation of Jamaat-e-Islami candidates in the election is not correct. They are BNP nominated candidates. Jamaat did not nominate them. They are contesting the poll with the paddy sheaf symbol of BNP. There is no Jamaat-e-Islami candidate in the election.”
On the other hand, Projonmo’71 a pro-liberation platform met CEC on Saturday requesting him to cancel the candidacy of the alleged Jamaat-i-Islami candidates.
The High Court cancelled Jamaat’s registration with the Commission on August 1, 2013, following a writ petition. Even later EC finally issued a gazette notification on October 29 this year confirming cancellation of the party’s registration.
Meanwhile, EC has announced a fresh date for the election to the Gaibandha-3 constituency setting the election date on January 27.
Helal Uddin said, “The fresh date for the submission of nomination papers to the constituency is on January 2 and the election to the seat will be held on January 27.”
EC on 20 December postponed the election to Gaibandha-3 constituency due to the demise of a Jatiya Oikya Front candidate Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi.- Staff Reporter
