BNP set to contest 285 seats, Jamaat 215, NCP 30 as nomination withdrawal deadline ends
Symbols to be allocated tomorrow; more than 2,000 candidates to battle it out at the polls
As the deadline for withdrawing nominations ended yesterday, a clearer picture has now emerged on which party is contesting which constituency.
Although the parties have not yet confirmed their final seat counts, discussions with party sources indicate that BNP will contest at least 285 seats with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, Jamaat at least 215 seats with the Scales symbol, and NCP at least 30 seats with the Water Lily Bud symbol.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh, which has left the Jamaat-led alliance, will contest 259 seats with the Hand Fan symbol.
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In addition, the Jatiya Party (GM Quader) has finalised candidates in 195 seats, while Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has done so in 29 seats. Gono Odhikar Parishad, which submitted nominations in 102 constituencies, will ultimately field 91 candidates with the Truck symbol after 13 candidates withdrew their nominations.
Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer told TBS, "We retained candidates in the constituencies covered by our understanding, while candidates in the remaining seats withdrew their nominations. At least 215 Jamaat candidates will contest with the Scales symbol.
"However, in at least two constituencies, supporters in the respective electoral areas did not allow Jamaat candidates to withdraw. Activists confined the candidates there. Those constituencies, as well as the ones where we could not reach an understanding, will remain open. As a result, Jamaat candidates will contest alongside alliance candidates in those seats."
In Moulvibazar-3, supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami confined the Jamaat-nominated candidate Md Abdul Mannan at his home to prevent him from withdrawing his nomination. In that constituency, the 10-party alliance had finalised Khelafat Majlis candidate Ahmad Belal.
Similarly, in Sunamganj-1, Jamaat candidate and the party's district ameer, Maulana Tofayel Ahmed, was locked inside the party's district office in the town by party activists and supporters. The seat was intended to be left to Maulana Mujammil Haque Talukder, the candidate of Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, an ally in the 10-party electoral alliance.
In Rajshahi, BNP leader Sultanul Islam Tarek, who wanted to contest as an independent candidate in the Rajshahi-1 (Godagari-Tanore) constituency after being denied party nomination, was also confined to his home by his own activists and supporters from around 11am until the afternoon yesterday.
As the deadline approached, he sent his withdrawal application through his younger brother, Saiful Islam, and confirmed the withdrawal via a video call with the returning officer and Rajshahi District Commissioner Afia Akhtar.
According to the announced schedule, except for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2, Tuesday was the final day for nomination withdrawals in the remaining 298 constituencies through the prescribed process for party-backed and independent candidates.
The 13th parliamentary election and referendum will be held on 12 February. More than two thousand candidates from 51 political parties, along with independents, are contesting the election.
A total of 417 candidates regained eligibility through the appeal process. The deadline for submitting nomination papers was 29 December, with 2,568 nominations filed.
Disinformation driven by AI major challenge: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said that countering various forms of disinformation driven by artificial intelligence in the 13th parliamentary election is a "major challenge".
He expressed concern over misinformation and confusion being spread on social media about the Election Commission's new initiative, Postal Voting (IT Supported). "This is the age of AI, and it is a big challenge. Addressing this challenge may be a major problem for us. I have been saying this from the very beginning," he said after a meeting with 'technically knowledgeable' representatives of all political parties at the Commission yesterday.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said after the same meeting, "A total of 51 political parties are participating in this election. Participation by such a large number of parties is positive. We hope the election will be peaceful, without major violence or undesirable situations. We believe the election will be free, fair and acceptable."
