Election authorities have declared the nomination papers of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman valid for both the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituencies ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled for 12 February.
The decisions were announced on Saturday following scrutiny by the respective returning officers. In Bogura, Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Md Taufiqur Rahman confirmed that no irregularities were found in the nomination papers submitted for the Bogura-6 constituency. Election officials said the decision was formally announced at around 10:20 am.
Separately, the returning officer concerned approved Tarique Rahman’s nomination for the Dhaka-17 seat earlier on Saturday.
Confirming the development, Abdus Salam, chief election coordinator for Dhaka-17 and a member of the BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council, said the nomination had been accepted following scrutiny. He welcomed the decision, but election officials emphasised that the review process was conducted in accordance with electoral rules.
Tarique Rahman submitted nomination papers for both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 on 29 December as part of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s preparations for the polls. Earlier, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party had decided to field him in the two constituencies as part of its electoral strategy.
During the same scrutiny session in Bogura, the nomination papers of Principal Abidur Rahman Sohel, a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, were also declared valid. However, the nominations of ANM Mamunur Rashid of Islami Andolan, Abdullah Al Waki of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), and Dilruba of Basad were rejected. Election officials did not immediately disclose detailed reasons for the rejections.
According to the Election Commission’s announced timetable, election campaigning will begin later this month, with polling set to take place on 12 February. Authorities have said the scrutiny of nominations across the country is continuing as part of preparations for the parliamentary vote.
.jpg "Former minister, Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed dies")
