The review of nomination papers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election is set to conclude on Sunday, according to the Election Commission (EC), which has also issued detailed guidelines for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers.
In a statement issued by the EC Secretariat in Dhaka, the Commission said appeals may be submitted from 5 January to 9 January, up to 5:00 pm, using a prescribed format. The national election, along with the referendum, is scheduled to be held on 12 February 2026.
Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations at the EC Secretariat, said that once the scrutiny process ends on Sunday, the Commission will publish nationwide figures on how many nomination papers have been accepted and rejected. He added that the verification of nomination papers submitted by contesting candidates will continue until 4 January.
Under the guidelines, any candidate may file an appeal with the Election Commission against the acceptance or rejection of a nomination paper. Appeals may also be submitted by banks, financial institutions, government service providers or authorised representatives of candidates, provided they do so by 9 January 2026, 5:00 pm.
The appeal must be submitted to the Secretary of the EC Secretariat using the prescribed application form. Applicants are required to include the date of acceptance or rejection of the nomination paper, a detailed statement outlining the grounds for appeal, and a certified copy of the order related to the acceptance or rejection.
A total of seven copies of the appeal application, including one original, 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, a separate application must be filed using the prescribed format, a sample of which is available at the central appeal submission booth of the EC. The appellant or an authorised representative will be able to collect the copy of the verdict.
The Election Commission said it will dispose of appeals related to nomination papers between 10 January and 18 January 2026.
The statement also reminded registered political parties, their nominated candidates, independent candidates, authorised representatives and recipients of government benefits that they must strictly comply with the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025.
