3056 candidates submit nomination papers to contest national election

A total of 3056 candidates, including 265 in 20 seats of capital Dhaka, have submitted their nomination papers across the country to contest the upcoming general election billed for December 30.

As per the Election Commission tally, 3,056 individuals and contenders of political parties filed their nominations forms for 300 seats by the deadline that expired at 5pm on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday night, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said 23 contestants filed nomination papers online. “However, we don’t know whether they also submitted the nomination papers manually. So, we haven’t included them in the total tally.”

The EC secretary said eight other runners filed blank nomination papers online while eight more submitted other documents like biodata online.

The Election Commission for the first time introduced the submission of online nomination papers in the parliamentary elections.

The highest 22 nomination papers were filed for Dhaka-8, while the lowest four nomination forms for Magura-2, said the EC Secretary.

Of the 3056 nomination papers submitted manually, 361 were filed in Rangpur division, 353 in Rajshahi, 351 in Khulna, 182 in Barishal, 236 in Mymensingh, 708 in Dhaka, 177 in Sylhet and 688 in Chattogram division, he said.

Helal said they collected the information about the nomination papers from retuning officers all over the country over telephone.

He also said the Commission has not received any complaint of violation of electoral code of conduct during the submission of nomination papers.

The EC secretary said aspirants submitted nomination papers amid festivity across the country.

He said the decision to withdraw the Superintendent of Police of Narayanganj district has been taken on specific allegations.

Many candidates, including those from two major political alliances — Awami League-led Grand Alliance and Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikyafront — filed their nomination papers on the last day amid festivity.

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on December 2 as the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 9 as per the reschedule announced by the Election Commission.

On November 8, the EC first announced the schedule for the general election fixing December 23 for balloting. Amid demand from opposition political parties, the Commission on November 12 deferred the national election to December 30 from December 23.

In the 10th national election held in 2014, which was boycotted by BNP, a total 1107 candidates submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies across the country.

Later, 230 nomination papers were cancelled during the scrutiny and 334 candidates withdrew their candidature.

Finally, the number of contesting candidates came down to 543 and 153 constituencies got single candidate after the last day of withdrawal of candidature in the election held on January 5, 2014.

The number of contesting candidates was 1567 in the 9th national election while 1939 in the 8th national election, 2572 in the 7th national election, 1450 in the 6th national election, 2787 in the 5th national election, 977 in the 4th national election, 1527 in the 3rd national election, 2125 in the 2nd national election and 1091 contesting candidates in the 1st national election.