Bangladesh News

BNP and its allies submitted nomination papers separately across the country on the last date yesterday as the alliance leaders failed to reach an agreement over seat sharing for the upcoming parliamentary election.

The alliance leaders said they would finalise the issue before the December 11 deadline for withdrawal of nomination.

Meanwhile, more than one candidates of the four-party alliance filed nominations for the same seat in many areas including some seats in Dhaka city. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali and BNP leader Habibunnabi Sohel, foe example, filed nomination for Dhaka-8.

The alliance leaders said papers of one of the candidates in these seats would be withdrawn after the issue is finalised.

A number of convicted leaders of the alliance also submitted nomination papers on the last date yesterday.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night told reporters that seat sharing would not be a problem for the alliance. “BNP and the four-party alliance would take the December 29 election as a challenge and inshallah we will win,” she said.

BNP insiders said their nominees filed nomination for 263 constituencies as the party kept 37 seats for its allies.

They said leaders of key ally Jamaat filed nomination in around 65 seats, but Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Kamaruzzaman said they filed nominations in about 50 seats.

“There are enough time to settle the issue through discussion,” Kamaruzzaman told The Daily Star last night.

Meanwhile, BNP yesterday brought some changes in its list of nominees following the High Court verdict that those who have been sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment under the Emergency Power Rules cannot contest the election.

According to the latest BNP decision, Habibunnabi Sohel and Shirin Sultana submitted nomination papers for Dhaka-8 and 9 seats as Mirza Abbas and his wife have little possibility to qualify as candidates.

Party leaders and workers, however, expressed dissatisfaction in many areas at the new nominations. Nomination of Abdul Hamid Dablu, son of BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, for Dhaka-19 was protested by the party rank and file.

Party men of Dinajpur-3 staged demonstration against the party decision to nominate Shafiul Alam Prodhan, president of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, in the constituency which is known as a BNP stronghold.

A few convicted leaders including Hafiz Ibrahim (Bhola-2), Mirza Abbas and his wife (Dhaka-8, 9), Salahuddin Ahmed (Dhaka-5) and Sabera Aman (Dhaka-2) filed nomination papers yesterday.

Khaleda will formally launch her election campaign by offering prayer at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet possibly on December 12.

Among the top leaders of BNP and Jamaat, Khaleda Zia (Feni-1, Bogra 6, 7), Khandaker Delwar (Manikganj-1), Saifur Rahman (Moulvibazar-3, Sylhet-1), Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky (Gazipur-1), Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain (Comilla-1), Hannan Shah (Dhaka-17, Gazipur-4), M Shamsul Islam (Munshiganj-3), Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman (Dinajpur-2), Dr Moin Khan (Narsingdi-2), Moudud Ahmed (Noakhali-5) and Jamiruddin Sircar (Panchagar-1) submitted their nomination papers.

Among top Jamaat leaders, Motiur Rahman Nizami (Pabna-1), Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid (Faridpur-3), Kamaruzzaman (Sherpur-3), ATM Azharul Islam (Rangpur-2), Abdus Sobhan (Pabna-5), Delwar Hossain Saidee (Pirojpur-1), Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher (Comilla-11), Hamidur Rahman Azad (Cox’s Bazar-2) and Mir Kashem Ali (Dhaka-8) filed nomination papers.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairperson Andaleeve Rahman last night told The Daily Star that they filed nomination for Bhola-1, 2 seats while Islami Oikya Jote leaders filed nomination papers for Brahmanbaria-2, Jessore-5 and Sunamganj-3.

Candidates from the Dhaka city constituencies are Sabera Aman (Dhaka-3), Abdul Hai (Dhaka-4), Salahuddin Ahmed (Dhaka-5), Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Kazi Abul Bashar (Dhaka-6), Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and his wife Nasima Akhter Kalpana (Dhaka-7), MA Quayum (Dhaka-10), MA Hashem (Dhaka-11), Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed (Dhaka-12), Moazzem Hossain Alal (Dhaka-13), SA Khaleque (Dhaka-14), Wing Comm (retd) Hamidullah Khan (Dhaka-15), barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah (Dhaka-16), Hannah Shah (Dhaka-17) and Azizul Bari Helal (Dhaka-18).