The Election Commission on Sunday cancelled the nomination papers of Ashraful Hossain Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam, and seven others for the Dhaka-17 by-election.

Returning officer Md Munir Hossain Khan announced this after scrutinising nomination papers at the Election Training Institute.

He said 15 intending candidates submitted nomination papers for contesting the polls and seven of them were declared valid while the others were scrapped.

The candidates whose nominations were declared valid are — Awami League candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jatiya Party (GM Quader) candidate Shikder Aminur Rahman, Md Rezaul Islam Swapan of Bangladesh Congress, Ganatantri Party’s Md Kamrul Islam (nominated by chairman), Ganatantri Party’s Ashok Kumer Dhar (nominated by general secretary), Bangladesh Sangskritik Mukti Jote’s Mohammad Akther Hossain and Triomul BNP’s Habibur Rahman.

The constituency became vacant after the death of legendary actor and lawmaker from Dhaka-17 constituency Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque, on May 15.

As per the schedule, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is June 25 and symbols will be allotted on June 26. The election will be held on July 17.