3056 submit nomination papers across country

BNP fields Fakhrul, two others as alternative candidates in Khaleda's seats

FE Team | Published: November 29, 2018 00:00:01

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, reports UNB.
An official at the Election Commission said they collected the information about the nomination papers from retuning officers all over the country over telephone.
As per their tally, he said 3,056 individuals and contenders of political parties filed their nominations forms for 300 seats by the deadline that expired at 5:00pm on Wednesday.
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.
Another reports adds: As uncertainty looms large over the participation of their chairperson in the election, BNP's three other leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, submitted nomination papers in Bagura-6, Bagura-7 and Feni-1 seats alongside Khaleda Zia.
Party insiders said they fielded alternatives candidates in the three seats of Khaleda as her nomination is likely to be declared void following Tuesday's High Court observation that those who have been sentenced to over two years' jail by a lower court in any graft case with appeal pending will not be allowed to contest elections.
Bagura district BNP president Saiful Islam submitted Khaleda's nomination paper for Bagura-6 seat to returning officer Foyez Ahmed around 12 noon.
He also filed a nomination paper in favour BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the same seat.
Earlier in the day, Fakhrul submitted his nomination paper to the returning officer in Tahkurgaon for contesting the polls from Thakurgaon-1 seat.
Former BNP MP Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu submitted Khaleda's nomination paper for Bagura-7 constituency to the Shahjahanpur Upazia Nirbahi Officer at noon.
Gabtoli upazila BNP general secretary Morshed Alam Milton also submitted nomination form in the same seat as an alternative party candidate, said BNP chairperson's media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said Khaleda's nomination was also submitted in the Feni-1 seat while Dhaka south city unit Jubo Dal President Rafiqul Islam Majnu filed nomination in the same seat as an alternative candidate.
Meantime though they were nominated by their party, three BNP leaders -- vice-chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo and joint secretaries general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel -- refrained from filing nomination papers to contest the upcoming general election.
BNP nominated Mintoo for Feni-1 constituency as an alternative candidate of Khaleda Zia while Syed Moazeem Hossain Alal for Barishal-2 and Sohel for Dhaka-9 parliamentary seats.
However, no one of them submitted their nomination paper on Wednesday, the last date for filing candidature, to contest the election, said BNP chairperson's adviser Sayrul Kabir Khan.