AL nomination sale ends Nov 12

Awami League will continue selling nomination papers to their potential candidates of upcoming general election until November 12.

A parliamentary party meeting of the party took the decision at Bangabandhu Avenue central office today, a meeting source told The Daily Star.

The ruling party is selling nomination form at Tk 30,000 at its Dhanmondi office. For the past three days, several leaders have collected the form.

WHEN IS ELECTION?

The 11th parliamentary election will be held on December 23, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced yesterday.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, CEC Huda unveiled the election schedule and urged all political parties to join the election.

The announcement of the election schedule came despite the request of Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance of the Gono Forum, BNP and several other opposition parties, not to announce the schedule before resolving the crisis over the election.

According to the schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers for candidacy is November 19. The returning officers will scrutinise the nomination papers on November 22 while the last date for withdrawing candidacy is November 29.

IS EVERYONE PARTICIPATING?

Chief Election Commissioner has said that there is a congenial atmosphere in the country – echoing the words of the ruling party.

However, major opposition alliances like the Jatiya Oikyafront, which includes BNP, and the Bikalpa Dhara-led Juktafront have sought for delaying the schedule.

Until thus far, it seems that the coming parliamentary election will not be the “non-participatory election” that was its predecessor.

All the major political parties are gearing up to contest in the election and there has been no threats of a boycott or withdrawal unlike the last time.

ANY IMPENDING ISSUES?

Major contentious issues over the polls still remain unresolved.

Two major demands – election under nonpartisan election-time government and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia – still remain unresolved.

Oikyafront, who are moving with a 7-point demand, say they will continue movement for their demands and take part in election side by side.

It appears, for now, elections will take place under the current Hasina administration.