29 candidates running in more than one seat
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Some 55 women including as many as 29 running in more than one constituency, are contesting in 60 seats in the forthcoming parliamentary polls slated for December 29, the Election Commission said, reports bdnews24.com.
"New electoral law does not allow one person to contest in more than three constituencies," pointed out EC Deputy Secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed. In the past candidates could try their luck in as many as five.
Sarwar also mentioned that women outnumber men in voter lists this year, breaking all previous records. The ballots of women and youth voters will be a major force in the upcoming election, Sarwar told the news agency.
The ninth parliamentary polls see some 41,236,149 female voters enrolled out of 81,058,698.
This year, both former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, as well as Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, are contesting in the maximum permitted three constituencies each.
"New electoral law does not allow one person to contest in more than three constituencies," pointed out EC Deputy Secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed. In the past candidates could try their luck in as many as five.
Sarwar also mentioned that women outnumber men in voter lists this year, breaking all previous records. The ballots of women and youth voters will be a major force in the upcoming election, Sarwar told the news agency.
The ninth parliamentary polls see some 41,236,149 female voters enrolled out of 81,058,698.
This year, both former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, as well as Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, are contesting in the maximum permitted three constituencies each.