Awami League fields 281 candidates, BNP 696

Awami League has fielded a total of 281 candidates in 264 constituencies while BNP 696 in 295 constituencies across the country to contest the 11th parliamentary elections.

Election commission secretary Helaluddin Ahmed came up with the statistics at a press briefing on Thursday night.

He said all the 39 registered political parties fielded candidates in the election slated for 30 December.

"A total of 281 AL-nominated candidates submitted the nomination papers in 264 constituencies, while 696 from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 295 constituencies," he said.

Besides, HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party fielded 233 candidates and Islamic Andolan Bangladesh 299 to contest the general election, he said.

A total of 3,065 candidates submitted the nomination papers within the deadline that expired on Wednesday to run the electoral race, said the EC secretary.

Among other aspirants, 498 independent candidates submitted the nomination papers in various constituencies across the country.

The five constituencies where BNP did not field any candidate are Tangail-8, Moulvibazar-2, Cumilla-7, Laxmipur-4 and Chattogram-14.

There is no AL candidate in 36 constituencies across the country which include Thakurgaon-3, Nilphamari-3 and 4, Lalmonirhat-3, Rangpur-1 and 3, Kurigram-2, Gaibandha-1, Bagura-2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, Rajshahi-2, Kushtia-2, Barishal-3 and 6, Pirojpur-2 and 3, Mymensingh-4 and 8, Kishoreganj-3, Munshiganj-1, Dhaka-4, 6 and 8, Narayanganj-5, Sunamganj-4, Sylhet-2, Moulvibazar-2, Brahmanbaria-2, Feni-1 and 3, Lakshmipur-2, Chattogram-2 and 5.

There is no candidate from HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party in 90 constituencies out of total 300.

The 90 constituencies include Thakurgaon-1 and 2, Dinajpur-3, Nilphamari-2, Lalmonirhat-2, Rangpur-6, Gaibandha-2, Chapainawabganj-1, 2 and 3, Naogaon-6, Rajshahi-1 and 4, Sirajganj-1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, Pabna-2, 3 and 4, Kushtia-2 and 3, Chuadanga-2, Jhenaidah-1, 2 and 4, Jashore-1, Magura-2, Khulna-3, Satkhira-3, Barguna-1, Patuakhali-2, Bhola-2, Barishal-1 and 4, Pirojpur-2, Tangail-1, 2, 3 and 6, Sherpur-2, Mymensingh-1, 3 and 11, Netrakona-1, 4 and 5, Kishoreganj-4 and 5, Manikganj-1, Dhaka-1, 2, 9 and 18, Narayanganj-2, Faridpur-2, 3 and 4, Gopalganj-1, Madaripur-2 and 3, Shariatpur-1 and 2, Sunamganj-1 and 3, Moulvibazar-1, 3 and 4, Habiganj-4, Brahmanbaria-1, Cumilla-6, 9 and 10, Chandpur-3, Feni-1 and 2, Noakhali-3, Laxmipur-3 and 4, Chattogram-1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 15, and Bandarban.

Apart from AL, BNP, Jatiya Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 35 other parties fielded some 1,058 candidates in different constituencies across the country.

Of them, 77 are from CPB, 53 from Jasod (Inu), 33 from Workers Party (Menon), 37 from Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh, 17 from Manju-led Jatiya Party (JP), 61 from Gano Forum, 37 from Krishak Sramik Janata Party, 15 from LDP, five from Bangladesh Kalyan Party, six from Jagpa, three from Samyabadi Dal, 51 from Rob-led JSD, 11 from Partho-led BJP, 20 from Tarikat Federation, 108 from Zaker Party and 49 from Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal.

BNP has fielded more than one candidate in most of the constituencies while AL in 17 and Jatiya Party in 23 constituencies.

The parties will have to confirm their final candidates before the withdrawal of candidature in these parliamentary seats.

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on 2 December and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is 9 December.

Source: unb