Two alliances scramble for seat deals as nomination deadline ends today
According to the Election Commission’s central coordination committee, by yesterday afternoon 2,780 nomination papers had been collected nationwide, with 31 submissions made
Highlights:
- Deadline day chaos as alliances scramble seat-sharing, face rebels
- BNP concedes seats but rebels file independents, risking discipline
- Only 17 of 28 BNP ally seats finalized
- Jamaat alliance renegotiates after NCP, LDP join bloc
- Election schedule set: scrutiny, withdrawals, symbols, campaigning dates
- Awami League barred as party; leaders may run independently
With the deadline for submitting nomination papers ending at 5pm today, both the BNP-led and Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliances were left scrambling to finalise seat-sharing arrangements amid internal divisions and the emergence of rebel candidates.
The BNP-led alliance has formally conceded a number of constituencies to allied parties but continues negotiations over the final distribution of seats. The situation has been further complicated by the declaration of several BNP leaders as independent contenders in constituencies reserved for allies, a move the party leadership has warned could trigger disciplinary action if not resolved before the final withdrawal deadline on 20 January.
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The Jamaat-led alliance faces a similar challenge. Having initially formed an eight-party bloc with an understanding on all 300 constituencies, the alliance must now renegotiate seat-sharing following the entry of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Oli Ahmed-led LDP yesterday.
Election Commission officials confirmed that Monday marked the final day for nomination submission under the announced schedule. Scrutiny, appeals and withdrawals will follow, with the final list of candidates due after 20 January, symbol allocation on 21 January and formal campaigning beginning the next day. Campaigning will continue until the morning of 10 February.
According to the Election Commission's central coordination committee, by yesterday afternoon 2,780 nomination papers had been collected nationwide, with 31 submissions made. All registered political parties are eligible to contest, although the Awami League cannot participate as a party due to the suspension of its political activities; its leaders, however, may run as independents or join other parties.
As the deadline passes without firm agreements in place, the coming days are expected to determine whether the two major alliances can consolidate their ranks – or whether internal divisions will reshape the electoral battlefield.
BNP's concessions and rebel crisis
So far, the BNP has announced candidates for 272 constituencies in two phases, revising nominations in several seats. Although 28 seats were initially kept aside for allies, only 17 have been formally allocated. On the final day of nominations, BNP nominees, allied party aspirants and rebel candidates all submitted papers, intensifying pressure on the party to rein in dissent within a narrow timeframe.
The BNP had earlier conducted a joint movement against the former Awami League government alongside more than 40 political parties and pledged to form a national government with them. As part of that understanding, the party has ceded 17 seats to its movement partners, including 12 seats to nine allied parties. In several constituencies, the BNP has refrained from fielding candidates in favour of long-time allies.
Prominent allied candidates include Saiful Haque of the Revolutionary Workers Party in Dhaka-12, Nurul Haque Nur of Gono Odhikar Parishad in Patuakhali-3, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagorik Oikya in Bogura-2, Zonayed Saki of Ganosamhati Andolon in Brahmanbaria-6 and Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) in Bhola-1. The BNP has also left four seats for Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam.
In addition, five leaders from allied parties have dissolved their own organisations and joined BNP, receiving nominations under the party's symbol. Despite repeated warnings from BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, party leaders have continued to collect nomination papers as independents in seats allocated to allies, though no organisational action has yet been taken.
Jamaat alliance expands, delaying consensus
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman told reporters yesterday that it would be possible to finalise seat adjustments with their allies immediately after the submission of nomination papers.
Responding to journalists' questions regarding seat adjustments, the Jamaat chief said that the parties, through mutual discussion, have determined candidates for 300 seats across the country. Two parties have reached the absolute final stage.
He said, "Our seat adjustment is almost complete. Only a few minor issues remain. We are hoping that immediately after filing the nomination, we will be able to resolve them smoothly based on mutual discussions. We are very confident about this."
Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf, central publicity secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, told TBS yesterday, "Islami Andolan Bangladesh will submit nomination forms for all three hundred seats. However, discussions on seat adjustments are ongoing. We are strongly optimistic that a wonderful compromise will be reached."
