STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Seventy-two more aspirants yesterday regained their candidacy to contest the 13th national polls scheduled for February 12.

The Election Commission heard 100 appeals on the fifth day of reviewing appeals against returning officers’ decisions to reject nominations. Of these, 73 were declared valid, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said in at the commission’s headquarters in Dhaka.

Ten appeals were kept pending, he said.

In Kurigram-4, Jatiya Party candidate KM Fazlul Mandal filed an appeal against the candidacy of Bangladesh Supreme Party candidate Shefali Begum.

The EC upheld the appeal, noting that Shefali had retired from government service only a year ago, which disqualified her from contesting. Her candidacy was cancelled.

Of the 72 candidates who regained their nominations through yesterday’s appeals, 24 belong to Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB).

Over the five days of hearings, the EC heard a total of 380 appeals. Of these, it approved 277 and rejected 81.

Akhtar said 23 appeals were kept pending for further hearing due to several reasons. The hearings will continue till January 18.

Asked about allegations that the government is campaigning for the referendum in violation of the Referendum Ordinance, the EC secretary said, “Ask those who are campaigning, why are you asking me?”