Staff Reporter:
The aspirants who collected nomination papers for the 13th parliamentary poll must submit the forms on Monday, as most of them are yet to file their papers and are waiting until the final day.
According to Election Commission (EC), a total of 2,780 nomination papers were collected to contest the election from the country’s 300 constituencies, but only 31 were submitted by 2:30pm on Sunday.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Sunday evening said the deadline for submission would expire at 5:00pm on Monday.
The Election Commission announced the election schedule on December 11, stating that the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order will be held simultaneously on February 12 next.
Under the schedule, December 29 is the deadline for submitting nomination papers, January 20 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature, and election campaigning will begin on January 22 and continue until 48 hours before polling, ending at 7:30am on February 10.
Meanwhile, the EC on Sunday clarified that providing income tax information of an aspirant’s spouse, children and dependents in the nomination form would be optional.
The clarification was issued through a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including two divisional commissioners, three regional election officers and 64 district deputy commissioners, following a demand from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
“Regarding income tax information in serial 10 of the affidavit, providing income tax-related information of the spouse, children and dependents mentioned in columns 2, 3 and 4 of the income tax return section shall be considered optional,” the commission said in the letter.
However, the EC said the statements of sources of income, assets and liabilities of fully dependent family members, mentioned in serials 6 and 7 of the affidavit, must be submitted, as required under Clause 12(3)(ka)(c) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972.
The clarification came after a three-member BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday to raise concerns over the provision.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nazrul Islam Khan said the RPO does not mention children, yet the nomination form asks for their income tax details, creating confusion.
“There is a question everywhere because many candidates’ children are not dependent on them.
Many are self-earning, some live abroad and many pay taxes independently. This has created complexity, which is why we wrote to the Election Commission and discussed the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the EC has asked the Home Ministry to take a series of measures to ensure a fair and peaceful election.
In a letter sent on Saturday, the EC called for the recovery of illegal arms, preparation of a level playing field, security for election offices and materials, and steps to contain misinformation and disinformation.
The commission also stressed the need to maintain communal harmony, ensure security for minorities, plan the deployment and budgeting of law enforcement forces, control illegal infiltration, and ensure security for postal ballots.
It further asked for arrangements to provide clearance and security for foreign observers and journalists visiting Bangladesh during the election period.
The commission has also sent letters to the Cabinet Division, the Foreign Ministry, the Local Government Division, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Posts and Telecommunications Division, and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, urging them to take necessary measures related to election activities.
