BNP has submitted nomination paper on behalf of jailed Chairperson Khaleda Zia to contest the 11th general election from Bogra 6 and Feni 1 constituencies.
Bogra district unit President Saiful Islam handed the nomination form to Returning Officer Foyez Ahmed on Wednesday noon while former MP from Feni Rehana Akter Ranu submitted the nomination to Returning Officer Md Wahiduzzaman around 3pm.
Since Khaleda Zia in jail in two corruption cases and her participation in the polls is uncertain following the Supreme Court order, two more candidates submitted nomination papers for the same constituency.
They are BNP chairperson’s Adviser Mahbubur Rahman and party’s Bogra district unit’s former president Rezaul Karim Badsha.
Later in the day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is expected to file his nomination for the same constituency.
Meanwhile in Feni, Dhaka City (South) Jubo Dal President Rafiqul Alam Maznu also filed nomination papers for Feni 1.
Can Khaleda compete in the polls?
The BNP chief's chances of participating in the polls appear to have been completely eradicated after the Supreme Court upheld a High Court order barring five BNP leaders convicted in graft cases, from contesting the polls.
On Tuesday, the High Court rejected separate petitions filed by five BNP leaders - Amanullah Aman, Dr AZM Zahid, Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, Abdul Wahab and Moshiur Rahman - seeking stay orders on the lower court verdicts in the graft cases filed against them.
It also said convicts sentenced to more than two years in jail cannot run for the election even if their appeals are pending.
Khaleda was first jailed in February for five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, although the High Court later doubled the sentence. The former prime minister was also sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in another corruption case in October.
Apart from Bogra 6, Khaleda was nominated for Bogra 7 and Feni 1 constituencies.
When is the election?
The election is scheduled to be held on December 30.
Wednesday is the deadline for submitting nomination. Nomination papers will be scrutinized on December 2. The last date for withdrawing candidacies is set for December 9.