Political parties await the Election Commission’s decision as appeal hearings begin today

Political parties watch EC appeal hearings as electoral calculations remain on hold

Political parties are closely monitoring the Election Commission’s appeal hearings, which begin today, as the outcomes will determine the fate of many aspirants and shape final seat-sharing arrangements among alliances ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

With the EC yet to publish the final list of valid candidates, major parties and their allies have paused electoral planning. Party leaders said seat-sharing talks will be concluded only after the appeals are disposed of and the final candidate list is announced, expected after 18 January.

Although the two main camps—BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—have already allocated some seats to alliance partners, leaders from both sides admitted the arrangements remain tentative.

BNP grapples with rebel candidates

The BNP is facing internal unease over seat sharing, particularly as rebel candidates have emerged in nearly 50 constituencies. Leaders of allied parties, including Nurul Haque Nur of Gono Odhikar Parishad and Saiful Haque of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, recently met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman to raise concerns about BNP rebels contesting seats earmarked for partners.

“The withdrawal deadline has not yet passed. We have asked them to honour the party decision and withdraw their nomination papers. We hope they will comply,” BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters on Friday.

He said several rebels have already informed the party of their intention to withdraw. “I believe the situation will improve within the withdrawal period. Otherwise, organisational action will be taken,” he added.

Jamaat allies also awaiting EC verdict

Discontent has also been reported among some Jamaat allies, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Jamaat leaders said seat-sharing decisions would be finalised only after the EC publishes the final list of candidates.

“We have not finalised seat sharing yet. Once the EC declares the final candidates, we will conclude our arrangements,” Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad told the Daily Sun.

645 appeals filed; hearings continue until 18 January

The EC said a total of 645 appeals have been filed against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers. On Friday—the final day for filing appeals—176 applications were submitted.

The hearings, overseen by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, will take place at the Nirbachan Bhaban in two daily sessions from 10am to 4pm, starting today and running until 18 January. Around 70 appeals are expected to be heard each day.

After hearings conclude, verdicts will be displayed on EC monitors and shared with returning officers and concerned parties via PDF. The decisions will also be published on the EC website.

Nomination rejections and election concerns

Following scrutiny, returning officers rejected the nomination papers of 723 candidates, leaving 1,842 valid contenders so far. EC officials said most appellants are independents or candidates from parties whose nominations were rejected, though appeals have also been filed against around 10 candidates whose nominations were initially accepted.

Meanwhile, concerns over the election environment are growing among parties and independent candidates. The recent shooting death of Azizur Rahman Musabbir, former general secretary of the Dhaka North city unit of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, has heightened anxiety over law and order.

Some candidates questioned whether voters would be able to cast their ballots safely if the situation worsens.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan urged the government to act decisively. “Improving the law-and-order situation is essential for a fair election. This is the government’s responsibility, and we have repeatedly called for necessary measures,” he said.

Leaders of Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP) have also recently met the EC, demanding administrative reshuffles—including the removal of partisan deputy commissioners—to ensure a free, fair, and neutral election.