Trinamool BNP on Thursday evening announced candidates for 280 seats for the upcoming 12th national polls.
Among them, five were former BNP MPs who had earlier joined Trinamool, while 100 other BNP leaders took nomination forms from the Trinamool BNP.
The party's General Secretary Taimur Alam Khandaker said: “Selection was made based on reliability that the candidates would not flee the field. We focused on candidates from different professional fields including 10 female nominations.”
“If BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was present, the party leaders would not have to quit their party and join others,” he added.
Taimur further said that there had been allegations that two candidates attacked in Noakhali-2 and Bhola constituencies, while two candidates were threatened not to participate in polls. One of the female candidates, who was threatened, refused to join the polls out of fear.
The 12th parliamentary election is scheduled for January 7.
The deadline for submission of nomination papers in the 12th parliamentary elections expired on Thursday.
Aspirants were asked to submit their nomination papers to the returning officers within 4pm.
The nomination papers will be scrutinized on December 1-4 and then the candidatures can be withdrawn by December 17.
The 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7 (Sunday), 2024 as per the polls schedule announced by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on November 15 last.
