Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) – Jatiya Party will formally start selling nomination papers on Sunday among those who want to contest the upcoming 11th general election with its ticket.

Party chairman HM Ershad is scheduled to inaugurate the nomination paper distribution at 11am at Emmanuelle's Auditorium in the capital’s Gulshan area, said a press release on Saturday.

Ershad is supposed to first buy a party nomination form to contest the election.

Jatiya Party senior-co-chairman Raushon Ershad, co-chairman GM Quader and general secretary ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader are also expected to buy their nomination forms at the programme.

On Thursday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a televised address to the nation announced the schedule for the next general election.

As per the schedule, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on December 23 (Sunday) while the last date for submitting nomination papers is November 19, the date for scrutinising nomination papers is November 22 and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is November 29.

Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) – The Election Commission has a plan to deploy army in those polling stations where Electric Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the 11th national election.

"The EC is planning to deploy army in EVM voting contres. If the Commission feels army's necessity, it’ll talk to the army and deploy them after giving them enough training,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Saturday.
 
Preferring anonymity, an EC official said the army will be in overall control of the polling stations where the EVMs to be used instead of ballot boxes.

The EC Secretary said a political alliance that is intended to contest the election with a single electoral symbol will have to inform the Election Commission their symbol by Sunday.

“Otherwise, no party can take part in the election as partner of alliance (officially). Each party will have to contest the polls with its respective electoral symbol,” Helaluddin said.

As per the law, no election campaign is allowed till allocation of polls symbol (Nov 30), he said.

Replying to a question over Oikyafront’s Rajshahi rally, the EC said they took permission for the rally before the announcement of the election schedule. "So, EC permitted them verbally,” he added.

In reply to another query on BNP's demand for deferment of the election schedule, the Secretary said there is no possibility of delaying it.

If all parties reach a consensus over it, then EC will take a decision, he said.

Replying to another question, the EC secretary said he is not aware about Mohammadpur political clash that left two boys killed in the morning. 

Helaluddin said the CEC has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take measures for preventing election campaign until (Nov 30) election symbols are allocated. Law enforcement agencies will take necessary steps in this regard. 
 

Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) – BNP senior leaders will hold a series of meetings with its leaders and its two alliance partners and party leaders today (Saturday) to decide whether it will join the forthcoming national election or not.

BNP senior leaders will hold a meeting with the leaders of the 20-party alliance at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office around 6pm and then sit with the Jatiya Oikya Front leaders around 8pm either at Dr Kamal Hossain’s chamber or Moudud Ahmed’s chamber, said BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

He said the BNP leaders will discuss the election issue, the country’s latest political situation, and work out their next course of action at the meetings.

Sayrul said BNP is unlikely to come up with its final decision on joining or boycotting the polls today.

Apart from the meeting with its two alliances, he said, BNP standing committee members will hold a meeting at 5pm at its chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Before their meeting, the BNP standing committee members may also sit with some senior leaders of the party to take their opinion about the election.

On Thursday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a televised address to the nation announced the schedule for the next general election.

As per the schedule, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on December 23 (Sunday) while the last date for submitting nomination papers is November 19, the date for scrutinising nomination papers is November 22 and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is November 29.

Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said there is no doubt that BNP is going to join the 11th parliamentary elections.

“I don’t know why there’s no festivity in the opposition camp. But, there’s no doubt that BNP is taking part in the election. We’re hopeful about it,” he said.

Quader came up with the remarks while briefing reporters at Awami League President’s Dhanmondi political office in the morning.

He said the Jatiya Oikyafront and BNP leaders violated the election code of conduct with their aggressive words at a rally in Rajshahi. “They can’t make such statements after the announcement of the election schedule. Making such antagonistic remarks and talking about movement and action programmes is a clear violation of the election code of conduct.”

As his attention was drawn to Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed’s comment that the Commission must be informed by three days about joining the election in alliance, Quader said they will seek more time in this regard as the 'polarisation equation’ is going on.”

Awami League joint general secretaries, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Organisng secretaries AKM Enamul Haque Shamim , Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury,  and office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap were, among others, present.

Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) - Cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe bin Mortaza will collect nomination papers of ruling Awami League on Sunday for contesting the upcoming 11th parliamentary election.

They confirmed the matter to Awami League secretary general and also Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at 12 pm over phone, said Md Abu Naser, senior information officer of the Ministry.

Earlier in May, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal informed that two cricket stars will contest the election.