Bangladesh Awami League on Monday picked its candidates for contesting the elections to 70 local bodies, three Zila Parishads and nine Upazila parishads.

The names of the contenders were finalised at a meeting of Awami League’s Local Government Nomination Board, held at Ganobhaban in the afternoon with AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The AL chairman aspirants for the by-polls to three Zila parishads are Md Shamshul Haque in Faridpur, Munir Chowdhury in Madaripur and Misbahur Rahman in Maulvibazar, according to an AL release.

The nine AL chairman candidates for Upazila parishad elections are Md Emdadul Haque for Manda Upazila of Naogaon district, Nurjahan Islam Hira for Jashore Sadar Upazila, Rayhan Uddin Shanto for Sarankhola of Bagerhat, Md Anwarul Iqbal for Paikgachha of Khulna, Abdul Latif Molla for Shibchar of Madaripur, Md Iqbal Al Azad for Jamalganj of Sunamganj, Mohammad Ali for Daudkandi of Cumilla, BHM Kabir Ahmed for Matlab Dakkhin of Chandpur and Swapan Kumar Talukder for Rangunia of Chattogram.

Besides, the ruling party has announced its chairman aspirants for contesting elections to nearly 60 Union Parishads in different districts across the country.

The elections and by-elections to a number of local bodies will be held on October 20 next.