According to EC officials, a total of 131 candidates filed appeals between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on the last day alone. The information was confirmed at the temporary central appeal booth in Agargaon.
Officials responsible for managing the booth said that a large number of candidates gathered from early morning. While the scheduled time ended at 5:00 pm, all candidates who arrived at the Election Building before the deadline were allowed to submit their appeals, resulting in the process continuing for an additional hour.
Ruhul Amin Mallick, Director of the Election Commission’s Public Relations Wing, said, “All appeals from candidates who reached the Election Building by 5:00 pm today are being accepted. The process will be completed as required.”
EC sources reported that a total of 469 appeals were submitted to the commission over the past four days against returning officers’ decisions. The highest number of appeals—174—was filed on Thursday (January 8). Of those, 164 were lodged against decisions cancelling nomination papers, while 10 were filed against decisions accepting nominations.
According to the revised election schedule, appeals against returning officers’ decisions were accepted from January 5 to January 9. Hearings on these appeals will take place from January 10 to January 18 at the auditorium (Basement-2) of the Election Building in Agargaon. The commission plans to hear an average of around 70 appeals per day.
As per the schedule, the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20. The final list of candidates, along with symbol allocation, will be published on January 21. Election campaigning will begin on January 22 and continue until 7:30 am on February 10. Voting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 12, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
