DHAKA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today upheld the candidacy of BNP nominee Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad in Cumilla-3 for the 13th parliamentary election.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, passed the order, dismissing a petition filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Yousuf Sohel.

Following the ruling, Kaikobad's lawyers, senior advocates Ahsanul Karim and Ruhul Quddus Kazal, said there is no legal barrier to their client's participation in the election.

The Election Commission (EC) had on January 19 declared Kaikobad's candidacy for the Cumilla-3 constituency valid, rejecting Sohel's appeal alleging that the BNP candidate holds dual citizenship.

The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate initially filed a writ petition with the High Court, which was dismissed. He later filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the Appellate Division.