Dhaka: A total of 645 aspirants filed appeal petitions with the Election Commission before the deadline expired on Friday, challenging returning officers’ decisions on the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers for the February 12 national election.

According to United News of Bangladesh, most of the petitions were submitted from January 5 to 9 against the cancellation of nomination papers during the scrutiny. On the last day, 176 aggrieved aspirants submitted the petitions, said EC Director (Public Relations) Ruhul Amin Mollik on Friday. The Election Commission will hear and dispose of the petitions from Saturday to January 18.

On Saturday, the Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir, will hear 70 petitions (the serial no 1-70) at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Earlier during the five-day nomination paper scrutiny from December 30 to January 4, the 69 returning officers – two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), 64 district deputy commissioners, and three regional election commissioners (Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna) – declared that the nomination papers of a total of 1,842 candidates valid and that of 723 others invalid.

A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers for the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline to contest the 13th parliamentary election. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the election schedule to arrange the national election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.

According to the schedule, the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30 am on February 10).