The Election Commission (EC) is hearing the appeals challenging the decision of returning officers (ROs) who rejected the nomination papers of candidates for the upcoming 12th general election.

The hearings started around 10am on Sunday at Basement 2 of the Nirbachan Bhaban Auditorium in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal along with other commissioners was giving the verdicts after hearing the statements of the aspirants.

Until 1:00pm, 57 hearings were completed and 35 aspirants got back their candidacy.

Starting from today, the disposal of the appeals would be completed by 15 December, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam said.

A total of 561 candidates who had seen their nomination papers scrapped by returning officers, appealed to the Election Commission to get back their candidacy.

Additional EC Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said a total of 2,716 nomination papers were filed by aspiring candidates in 300 constituencies to contest the next general election scheduled to take place on 7 January.

The returning officers rejected 731 nomination papers during scrutiny.

According to the polls schedule, aspirants can withdraw candidature till 17 December, and the electoral symbols will be allotted among them on 18 December.