The ruling party Awami League has picked five independent lawmakers from the 10th parliament as party candidates for the 11th parliamentary election, scheduled to be held on December 30.
Awami League has handed over candidacy letters to Tahjib Alam Siddique of Jhenaidah 2, Shawpan Bhattacharjee of Jessore5, Haji Mohammad Salim of Dhaka 7, Yussuf Abdullah Harun of Comilla3, and Razee Mohammad Fakhrul of Comilla 4.
All were elected as independent candidates in 2014 after contesting against Awami League candidates.
A total of 15 candidates won their constituencies as independent candidates in the 10th parliamentary election held on January 5, 2014.
According to Awami League parliamentary board members, though these candidates contested against party candidates earlier,they are popular among common voters.
A member of Awami League parliamentary board wishing to remain anonymous told the Dhaka Tribune that according to survey reports conducted by law enforcement agencies and the US-based International Republic Institute, these candidates are the most popular, and have the best chance of winning.
“They already proven their popularity after defeating Awami League candidates in the 2014 election, so the party is giving them the boat symbol,” said the parliamentary board member.
A total of 231 party nomination letters were handed out from 4,023 aspirants, according to Awami League General Secretary Obadul Quader. “Nomination papers will be scrutinized by November 28. The list of the Grand Alliance candidates, however, will be formally announced before the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers,” he said.
“We will not change anything after the party nomination letters have been handed over,but alliance candidates will be considered if they are better suited than our candidates,” the senior politicianadded.
When is the election?
The 11th general election is scheduled for December 30.
Candidates will have to file their nomination papers by November 28. The deadline to withdraw candidacy is December 9.
The Election Commission will scrutinize nomination papers on December 2.
