EC clears Jamaat candidate Azad for Cox’s Bazar-2 race

The Election Commission (EC) today declared the nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami leader AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad valid after allowing his appeal against a returning officer’s decision.

Azad, an assistant secretary general of Jamaat, received the decision following a hearing conducted by the commission around noon.

The nomination of Azad was cancelled during scrutiny on January 2.

Explaining the decision, Cox's Bazar district Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan earlier said that the cancellation was due to complications related to a case.

On the day of scrutiny, Supreme Court lawyer Md Arif, representing Azad, explained that a contempt of court case was filed against his client during the Awami League-led government.

Arif argued, "The case was one of contempt of court, not related to any criminal offence. The returning officer announced the decision unilaterally without hearing our arguments."

The EC has received a total of 645 appeals challenging returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12.

Hearings on the appeals began this morning at the Election Commission auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The commission will continue hearing appeals daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm until January 18.