Dhaka, Jan. 11 -- The Election Commission has cleared 58 more candidates to contest in the Feb 12 polls, pushing the total number of valid contenders close to 2,000 on the second day of reviews.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikko, whose nomination in the Bogura-2 constituency was among those declared valid on Sunday.

With Sunday's decisions, as many as 109 candidates have had their candidacy restored over the past two days, while one previously valid candidate has been dropped.

The appeal hearings were held from morning to afternoon at the Nirbachan Bhaban, led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.

On Saturday, one candidacy was cancelled, while 51 appeals were allowed, making those applicants valid candidates...