DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Following scrutiny, the nomination papers of 12 candidates contesting the Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15 constituencies have been declared valid for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, while eight nominations were cancelled.

Dhaka Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer Yunuch Ali disclosed the information at a briefing held this morning at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon. He said the scrutiny of nomination papers for both constituencies was completed on January 3.

In Dhaka-13 constituency, a total of 11 candidates submitted nomination papers, of which five were rejected. The candidates whose nominations were found valid are Bobby Hajjaj of BNP, Fatima Akter Munia of Insaniat Biplob, Md. Mamunul Haque of Khelafat Majlis, Md. Murad Hossain of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Md. Shahabuddin of Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), and independent candidate Sohel Rana. 

The rejected candidates in this constituency are independent candidate Sheikh Md. Rabiul Islam, Mizanur Rahman of Gono Odhikar Parishad, Shahriar Iftekhar of Bangladesh Muslim League, Md. Khalequzzaman of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and Raju Ahmed of Aam Janata Dal.

In Dhaka-15 constituency, nine candidates filed nomination papers. After scrutiny, the nominations of six candidates were declared valid, while three were cancelled. The candidates cleared to contest from Dhaka-15 are Md. Shafiqur Rahman of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan of BNP, AKM Shafiqul Islam of Gonoforum, Khan Shoaib Aman Ullah of Janatar Dal, Md. Ashfaqur Rahman of Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Md. Shamsul Haque of Jatiya Party. The nominations of Ahamed Sajedul Haque of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, independent candidate Md. Tanjil Islam and Mobarak Hossain of Bangladesh Supreme Party were rejected.

Explaining the reasons for rejection, Yunuch Ali said nomination papers were cancelled due to failure to secure the required one percent voter support, non-compliance with the three-year retirement rule for former government employees, errors in affidavits, mistakes in filling out nomination forms -- particularly omission of the third section -- and incorrect party nominations.

He also said that the Election Commission has provisions for appeal against both acceptance and rejection of nomination papers. Candidates concerned may collect copies of the orders from the Returning Officer's office and file appeals between January 5 and January 9.