Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started on Monday selling nomination papers for the 11th parliamentary election.
The aspirant candidates along with enthusiastic supporters thronged the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city for collecting nomination papers.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest the election from Feni and Bogura constituencies.
Three nomination papers were collected by party vice-chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo for his party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda will contest from Feni-1and Bogura-6 & 7 constituencies.
The selling of nomination papers started at 10:00 am which was scheduled to close at 4:00 pm.
But selling of nomination papers was going on till filling of the report at 7:30 pm due to huge pressure from aspirants for contesting the election.
Visiting the party's Naya Paltan office this FE correspondent found thousands of supporters along with their leaders from different divisions came to the party office for collecting nomination papers.
The enthusiastic leaders and party stalwarts chanted slogans in favour of their jailed party chairperson Khaleda Zia and senior vice-chairman Tarique Zia.
Aspirants expressed their optimism that they would win the forthcoming election if they get party nomination.
"I am confident to win the election if I get party nomination," said Advocate Sheikh Md Moklesur Rahman who will contest in the polls from Bogra-3 constituency.
Around fourteen hundred nomination papers were sold until 6:30 pm on the day.
Of them, 669 nomination papers were sold for Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions while 111 for Rajshahi division , 46 for Rangpur division, 109 for Khulna division, 10 for Faridpur and over 300 for Sylhet, Chittagong and Cumilla divisions.
Sixty eight nomination papers were sold for Barishal division.
A senior BNP leader told the FE that they would consider to extend the deadline for collecting nomination papers considering the increasing number of aspirants for contesting in the general election.
The sale of nomination papers will again resume at 10:00 am today (Tuesday), according to party sources.
Earlier, senior joint secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Riziv announced on November 11 that his party will sell nomination papers from November 12.
Each of the nomination paper was sold at Tk five thousand.
The persons who purchased nomination papers have been asked to submit their nomination papers by providing all information prescribed in it by Wednesday (November 14).
At the time of submission of nomination papers they have to deposit non-refundable Tk 25,000.
Huge traffic jam was seen at Kakrail, Purana Paltan, Naya Paltan and Motijheel and other adjoining areas.
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