Nomination scrutiny ends as EC clears 1,842 candidates, rejects 723

Staff Reporter :

The scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election concluded yesterday, with the Election Commission (EC) declaring 1,842 candidates’ nominations valid and cancelling 723 others out of a total of 3,406 nomination papers submitted nationwide.

Alongside the completion of scrutiny, the EC issued detailed guidelines and a prescribed format for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers.

According to a statement from the EC Secretariat, appeals may be submitted from January 5 to January 9 until 5:00 pm.

The national election, along with a referendum, is scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026.

Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, director of public relations at the EC Secretariat, said the Commission would publish a constituency-wise breakd

own of accepted and rejected nomination papers following the completion of scrutiny. He added that verification of nomination documents of contesting candidates would continue until January 4.

Under the appeal procedure, any candidate, bank, financial institution, government service provider, or an authorised representative of a candidate may file an appeal with the Election Commission challenging the acceptance or rejection of a nomination paper.

Appeals must be submitted to the secretary of the EC Secretariat by January 9, 2026, no later than 5:00 pm.

The appeal application must be filed using the prescribed format and include the date of acceptance or rejection of the nomination, a statement outlining the grounds for appeal, and a certified copy of the relevant order.

A total of seven copies—one original and six duplicates—must be submitted at the designated booth of the relevant regional appeal acceptance centre of the Election Commission.

To obtain a copy of the Commission’s decision on an appeal, applicants must submit a separate request using the prescribed form, a sample of which is available at the central appeal submission booth. Copies of verdicts may be collected by the appellant or an authorised representative.

The Election Commission will hear and dispose of appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers between January 10 and January 18, 2026, the statement said.

The EC also reiterated that registered political parties, their nominated candidates, independent contenders, authorised representatives and recipients of government benefits must strictly adhere to the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025” throughout the electoral process.

With the scrutiny phase completed and the appeal window set to open, the election process has entered a decisive stage that will determine the final list of candidates for the February 12 polls.