1,981 candidates to contest JS polls

A total of 1,981 candidates will contest the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections in 298 constituencies across the country, alongside a referendum scheduled for February 12.

Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Md Ruhul Amin Mallick told BSS that 1,732 candidates nominated by 51 registered political parties and 249 independent candidates are in the race.

However, due to a revised election schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, finalisation of candidatures in those seats will take place after January 27, the EC said.News BSS

According to the EC, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded 288 candidates in the 298 constituencies. Islamic Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) has nominated candidates in 253 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will contest in 224 constituencies.

In addition, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has nominated 32 candidates. Jatiya Party has candidates in 192 seats, Gono Odhikar Parishad in 90 seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis in 34 seats and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) in 30 seats, the EC official added.

Voting in the 13th parliamentary elections will be held on February 12 (Thursday) from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm without any break. Both the parliamentary polls and the referendum will be conducted using ballot papers in transparent ballot boxes.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the election schedule in a televised address to the nation on December 11.