Dhaka, Jan. 9 -- A total of 645 appeals have been filed with the Election Commission (EC) against returning officers' decisions on nomination papers for the parliamentary polls.

The five-day submission period ended Friday. Hearings will begin Saturday at the commission's Agargaon office.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and four other commissioners will oversee the process.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and officials from the law wing will also attend.

Md Arifur Rahman, an officer of the EC's law wing, said hearings will be held in the commission auditorium, with at least 70 appeals scheduled on the first day. The process will continue until Jan 18.

He requested that no more than three people, including the appellant, enter th...