Appeals of rivals wear EC out

The Election Commission (EC) is facing tremendous difficulties in resolving a plethora of problems regarding finalising parliamentary candidacies within the deadline, as rival candidacy seekers lodged complaints with it against acceptance of 81 party nominations.
With the commission yet to complete hearing the appeals against rejections of applications for candidacy, it now has to hear for the first time the complaints filed against the acceptance of nominations.
Sources in the EC said candidacies of the 81, most of whom are nominees of the two major electoral alliances led by Awami League (AL) and BNP, have become uncertain due to the challenges from their rivals as well as their own party colleagues.
"The commission has decided to hear the complaints against the candidacies on December 10," EC Secretary Humayun Kabir told The Daily Star yesterday.
Another EC official said the commission is facing tremendous hurdles in maintaining all protocols regarding awarding of candidacies.
"We must resolve all problems by December 10 as the following day is the last date for withdrawing applications for candidacy," he added.
BNP's Ekhlak Hossain filed a complaint with the EC against his own party nominee Dr Enamul Haq in Rajshahi-1 constituency, alleging that three years have yet to elapse since Haq's retirement from government service.
Acceptance by the EC of BNP's nominations of Abdul Hannan in Chandpur-4, Nurul Huda in Chandpur-2, Shafiq Ahmed Chowdhury in Sylhet-3, Abul Khayer Bhuiyan in Laxmipur-2, Motiar Rahman Talukder in Borguna-1, Mozahar Ali Prodhan in Joypurhat-1, Mizanur Rahman Minu in Rajshahi-2, Abul Hossain Khan in Barisal-6, Barrister Ziaur Rahman in Dhaka-20, and of Hasina Ahmed in Cox's Bazar-1 were also challenged.
Complaints were also lodged against the acceptance of AL nominations of Imran Ahmed in Sylhet-4, Maj (retd) Jasimuddin in Bhola-3, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury in Sylhet-2, Nilufar Zafrullah in Faridpur-4, Khaja Shamsul Alam in Joypurhat-1, Nuruzzaman Ahmed in Lalmonirhat-2, and of Abu Syed AL Mahmud in Joypurhat-2.
Ershad-led Jatiya Party's nominations of Zafar Iqbal Siddiqui in Nilphamari-1, Fakir Ashraf in Netrakona-2, Mostafa Jamal Haider in Pirojpur-1, and of AKM Mohidul Islam in Kurigram-3, which had been accepted by the EC, were also challenged by rival candidates.
Meanwhile, the commission heard the appeals of disqualified applicants in the last two days to settle the disputes regarding a total of 557 rejections. The hearings will continue till December 10.
Till late last night the commission adjudicated 170 appeals against the rejections out of a total of 391appeals. Thirty seven of the rejected applicants were reinstated as candidates through the hearings.
The reinstated candidates among party nominees are Advocate Fazle Rabbi in Gaibandha-5, ASM Firoz in Potuakhali-2, and Harunur Rashid in Laxmipur-2 of AL, Mobashsher Alam Bhuinya in Comilla-10 of BNP, Shakil Ahmed in Dhaka-2, Tajul Islam in Hobiganj-4, Tofazzal Hossain in Naogaon-2, Abdul Mannan Talukder in Sunamganj-1, Quayum Uddin in Naogaon-1, Abu Belal Hossain Jewel in Naogaon-6, and Kazi Shaheen in Gopalganj-1 of Jatiya Party, Omar Farooque Liton in Munshiganj-3, Mohiuddin Majhi in Munshiganj-1, Al-Amin in Comilla-1, Abdul Karim in Hobiganj-3, and ATM Hemayet Uddin in Dhaka-5 of Bangladesh Islami Andolon, Liaqut Ali Khan in Munshiganj-3 of Islamic Front, Sultan Mamunur Rashid of Bikalpadhara in Naogaon-3, Golam Mostafa Sentu of Tarikat Federation in Munshiganj-1, AHM Zahir Hossain Hakim and Enamul Haque Enam of National Peoples Party in Laxmipur-2 and Chittagong-8 respectively, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League's Mohammad Shafiullah in Sherpur-1 and Dr Md Hassan Ali Talukder in Sirajganj-5, Kalyan Party's SM Afzal Hossain in Gopalganj-3, Waliullah of Khelafat Majlish in Comilla-7, Oikkabaddha Nagorik Andolon's Amir Khan in Dhaka-4, Zaker Party's Molla Giasuddin Ahmed in Shariatpur-1 and Bimal Kumar Mitra in Natore-4.
Independent applicants whose candidacies were okayed upon appeals are Ushatan Talukder in Rangamati, Jalaluddin in Chandpur-2, Abdul Aziz Molla in Jaipurhat-1, Masudur Rahman (Mohon Raihan) in Sirajganj-2, Syed Rafiqul Haque in Sunamganj-1, KS Ong in Bandarban, Abdul Kader in Dhaka-15, Nazimuddin Al Azad in Jessore-4, and Zayedul Islam Zahid in Kurigram-4.
The commission will also meet today to decide the fate of BNP nominee Sadeque Hossain Khoka who filed for candidacy in Dhaka-6, and of AL nominee in Jhenaidah-3, Shafiqul Azam Khan.
The EC had accepted their nominations, but the High Court later declared them disqualified, as Khoka is holding the post of Dhaka mayor while Azam is an elected municipality chairman.
Meanwhile, the EC decided to start hearing from today the appeals of applicants disqualified on grounds of loan and bill defaults, and criminal convictions by courts.
A total of 2,460 applications for candidacy were filed with the EC for the upcoming parliamentary election, a record low since the 1991 national election, according to commission sources.