Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said his party is now studying survey reports of nomination seekers and will finalize the candidates within one or two days, adding that the alliance members will be allotted 65-70 seats.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister said so at a press briefing at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office on Thursday, after a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Board took place.
“We are now going through the survey reports of possible candidates.But we have not started any formal study yet.
“We are hoping to finish the study soon. After that, it will take another 2-3 days to finalize the candidates,” said Quader.
Quader who is the secretary member of Awami League Parliamentary Board, said: “We have already discussed the selection of party candidates in two official meetings,but we are regularly discussing the matter informally at the prime minister’s official residence Ganabhaban.”
He also added that Awami League’s election manifesto is almost ready and they will declare it very soon.
In the last six months, the AL top brass conducted six surveys using law enforcement agencies, local and foreign survey conducting institutions, to check the popularity of aspirant candidatesin their constituencies.
Jukta Frontto joinAL-led alliance
In his answer to a question the AL general secretary said that there was no doubt that former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front will participate in the election as a partner of Awami League-led 14-Party Alliance.
However, Quader claimed that they did not discuss with Jukta Front over seat sharing issues as they are yet to submit their demand of seats.
Earlier, on November 2, Jukta Front leaders sat in a dialogue with Awami League-led 14-party alliance leaders where they praised the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership and expressed their satisfaction saying that they will participate in the election under the leadership of the present government.
Jatiya Party and an alliance named Democratic Alliance formed by 39 parties have also expressed their in interest to work with Awami League.
“Leaders of Democratic Alliance came to the Dhanmondi office and in a meeting with mehave expressed their interest to work with us. They even did not demand any seats for the upcoming elections” said Quader.
Sale of nomination forms
Earlier on November 9, Awami League started selling nomination forms for the 11th general election.
Quader inaugurated the nomination form sales. He, along with the party’s Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Abdullah, had bought nomination forms for the Gopalganj 3 and Rangpur 6 constituencies on behalf of the Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
At least 4,035 aspirants have collected nomination forms to get the Awami League nod for the 11th general election.