Awami League Central Working Committee Member and media personality Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat has submitted his nomination papers to contest the Dhaka-17 by-elections, to be held on July 17.
He submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer at the Election Training Institute (ETI) of Agargaon in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
At least 10 leaders and activists accompanied the ruling party's candidate from the main entrance to the office of the returning officer. At the same time, many leaders and activists were rallying on the road. Such gatherings go against the electoral code of conduct, according to EC officials.
Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League President Sheikh Bajlur Rahman and General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi, among others, were present at this time.
When asked, Arafat told reporters that he was accompanied by four people including Bajlur Rahman to the returning officer's room. He did not know the other persons present there.
On June 9, the ruling Awami League's nomination board, in a meeting chaired by the party chief Sheikh Hasina, picked Mohammad Arafat as its candidate for the by-election.
Yesterday was the deadline for submitting nomination papers.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (JaPa) has nominated two separate leaders to contest in the by-election.
GM Quader on Wednesday nominated Maj (Retd) Sikdar Anisur Rahman while Raushan, also leader of the opposition in parliament, nominated Kazi Mamun to contest in the by-polls.
With this, fresh rifts have surfaced between party Chairman GM Quader and the party's Chief Patron Raushan Ershad.
Facebook celebrity turned politician Ashraful Hossen Alom, alias Hero Alom, also collected the nomination paper from the by-polls on June 4.
The date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is June 18, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is June 25.
According to the schedule, the election will be conducted using ballot papers.
The constituency fell vacant with the death of veteran actor Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque.
