Nomination papers for all six candidates, including two representing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and one from Jamaat-e-Islami, have been declared valid for the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 constituency by-election scheduled for October 29.

Returning Officer and Thakurgaon District Election Officer Md Kamrul Islam validated the nomination documents following formal scrutiny at the district election office on Tuesday morning.

The cleared candidates comprise BNP nominee and district BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, district BNP Vice President Obaidullah Masud, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delowar Hossain, Islami Andolan Bangladesh contender Md Khademul Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan candidate Md Abdul Alim Nizami, and Bangladesh Congress nominee Hussain Muhammad Omar Faruk.

Kamrul Islam confirmed that six candidates representing five distinct political entities had collected nomination papers, and all six subsequently filed their submissions.

“Today was the scheduled date for scrutiny of the nomination papers. The candidates of all participating parties along with the law enforcement agencies and others concerned will make efforts to ensure a fair election,” he stated.

According to the official timetable released by the Election Commission, the deadline for candidature withdrawal is set for October 7, with election symbols slated for distribution on October 8.

During the general parliamentary election conducted on February 12 earlier this year, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir secured the Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary seat by defeating Jamaat contestant Delawar Hossain.

The constituency subsequently fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul was elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh.