Candidatures of Hero Alam, 7 others cancelled

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday cancelled the nomination papers of seven candidates in the upcoming Dhaka-17 by-polls.

Those whose nomination papers were cancelled are individual candidates Hero Alam, Md Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, Abu Azam Khan, Musaur Rahman Khan, Sheikh Asaduzzaman Jalal, Kazi Md Rashidul Hasan of Jaker Party and Md Mojibur Rahman of Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF).   

Munir Hossain Khan, the returning officer of the Dhaka-17 by-election and senior election officer of the Dhaka district, made the announcement after scrutinizing the nomination papers. 

However, the candidatures of the seven candidates including Awami League-backed candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat were declared valid. 

The by-election to the Dhaka-17 constituency that fell vacant following the death of ruling AL lawmaker and noted film actor Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque will be held on July 17.

According to the election schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers was June 15, while the date for scrutinising nomination papers is June 18, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 25.

Legendary actor and parliamentary member Farooque died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on May 15.