bdnews24.com :
Almost half of the registered political parties have applied for the symbols associated with the two major players in the election as they built alliances for the nationwide race.
The Election Commission, having a provision to allow parties in an alliance to use the same election symbol, has received applications only for ‘boat’ and sheaf of paddy symbols.
The deadline for applying to the EC for the same election symbol was Thursday. Eight registered parties under the alliance led by the ruling Awami League and 11 parties under the alliance led by the BNP have applied respectively for the symbols ‘boat’ and ‘paddy sheaf.’
The main opposition in parliament, Jatiya Party, will contest the election with its own symbol ‘plough,’ despite being part of the Awami League-led alliance.
On the other hand, the leftist parties have not applied for using the same election symbol although they have formed an alliance. “The Awami League and BNP have submitted a list of their alliance members willing to
use the same election symbols. The parties have written to the EC separately. The Jatiya Oikya Front submitted a similar list on Thursday. Everyone will be allotted symbols following the rules,” said Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.
Those who have not written to the EC for the same election symbol as of Thursday will have to settle for their own symbols.
AL chief Sheikh Hasina sent a letter to the EC, naming 16 parties, including eight registered parties.
Their alliance members will contest the election with the same symbol, said the Awami League.
The registered parties in the AL alliance are: JSD, Workers Party, Samyabadi Dal, Ganatantri Party, National Awami Party (NAP), Tarikat Federation and Jatiya party.
The unregistered parties in the same alliance are: Gana Azadi League, Ganatantrik Majdoor League, Communist Centre, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Islami Front, Bangladesh JSD, Krishak Shramik Party and Trinamul BNP.
Bikalpadhara, a member of Jukto Front, announced a plan to join the alliance led by the ruling party and wrote to the EC for permission to use the AL symbol ‘boat.’
The party is having discussion with the AL led 14-party alliance on its expansion. Some of the candidates from Jukto Front and Bikalpadhara will contest the election with ‘boat’ symbol, if they become part of the alliance.
The unregistered parties are barred from contesting the election but their candidates can contest, if nominated by a registered party. The Election Commission will consider them as the member of the registered party.
The BNP is part of both the 20-party alliance and Jatiya Oikya Front. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wrote to the EC saying a number of 11 registered parties will contest the election with their party symbol, paddy sheaf.
The members of 20-party alliances are LDP, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JGP) and Bangladesh Muslim League.
Also, the Gono Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Krishak Shramik Janata League will use the symbol ‘paddy sheaf’ as Jatiya Oikya Front allies, they said.
It has been decided that any Oikya Front candidate, even if from the unregistered parties, will use the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol, said Subrata Chowdhury, the acting president of Gono Forum, a key ally of the alliance.
Therefore, if Nagorik Oikya and Oikya Prokriya members become candidates, they have to contest the election as part of the BNP.
Bangladesh Islami Front and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish chose to compete with their own symbols although they are part of the alliance led by the Jatiya Party.
Nominations can be submitted until Nov 28, according to the election schedule. The applications will be scrutinised by Dec 2. The last day for the withdrawal of candidature has been set for Dec 9.
The candidates can begin their election campaign after the symbols are allotted on Dec 10. The election is scheduled to be held on Dec 30.
Almost half of the registered political parties have applied for the symbols associated with the two major players in the election as they built alliances for the nationwide race.
The Election Commission, having a provision to allow parties in an alliance to use the same election symbol, has received applications only for ‘boat’ and sheaf of paddy symbols.
The deadline for applying to the EC for the same election symbol was Thursday. Eight registered parties under the alliance led by the ruling Awami League and 11 parties under the alliance led by the BNP have applied respectively for the symbols ‘boat’ and ‘paddy sheaf.’
The main opposition in parliament, Jatiya Party, will contest the election with its own symbol ‘plough,’ despite being part of the Awami League-led alliance.
On the other hand, the leftist parties have not applied for using the same election symbol although they have formed an alliance. “The Awami League and BNP have submitted a list of their alliance members willing to
use the same election symbols. The parties have written to the EC separately. The Jatiya Oikya Front submitted a similar list on Thursday. Everyone will be allotted symbols following the rules,” said Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.
Those who have not written to the EC for the same election symbol as of Thursday will have to settle for their own symbols.
AL chief Sheikh Hasina sent a letter to the EC, naming 16 parties, including eight registered parties.
Their alliance members will contest the election with the same symbol, said the Awami League.
The registered parties in the AL alliance are: JSD, Workers Party, Samyabadi Dal, Ganatantri Party, National Awami Party (NAP), Tarikat Federation and Jatiya party.
The unregistered parties in the same alliance are: Gana Azadi League, Ganatantrik Majdoor League, Communist Centre, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Islami Front, Bangladesh JSD, Krishak Shramik Party and Trinamul BNP.
Bikalpadhara, a member of Jukto Front, announced a plan to join the alliance led by the ruling party and wrote to the EC for permission to use the AL symbol ‘boat.’
The party is having discussion with the AL led 14-party alliance on its expansion. Some of the candidates from Jukto Front and Bikalpadhara will contest the election with ‘boat’ symbol, if they become part of the alliance.
The unregistered parties are barred from contesting the election but their candidates can contest, if nominated by a registered party. The Election Commission will consider them as the member of the registered party.
The BNP is part of both the 20-party alliance and Jatiya Oikya Front. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wrote to the EC saying a number of 11 registered parties will contest the election with their party symbol, paddy sheaf.
The members of 20-party alliances are LDP, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JGP) and Bangladesh Muslim League.
Also, the Gono Forum, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Krishak Shramik Janata League will use the symbol ‘paddy sheaf’ as Jatiya Oikya Front allies, they said.
It has been decided that any Oikya Front candidate, even if from the unregistered parties, will use the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol, said Subrata Chowdhury, the acting president of Gono Forum, a key ally of the alliance.
Therefore, if Nagorik Oikya and Oikya Prokriya members become candidates, they have to contest the election as part of the BNP.
Bangladesh Islami Front and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish chose to compete with their own symbols although they are part of the alliance led by the Jatiya Party.
Nominations can be submitted until Nov 28, according to the election schedule. The applications will be scrutinised by Dec 2. The last day for the withdrawal of candidature has been set for Dec 9.
The candidates can begin their election campaign after the symbols are allotted on Dec 10. The election is scheduled to be held on Dec 30.
