United News of Bangladesh

A total of 2,582 candidates have submitted nomination papers to contest from the country’s 300 constituencies in the 13th general election slated for February 12, 2026. As many as 3,407 aspirants collected nomination papers, but 2,582 ones filed nomination papers, according to the statistics of the EC’s central coordination committee. Among them, 278 nomination papers were submitted in 33 constituencies of Rangpur region, while 260  in 39 constituencies of Rajshahi region, 276  in 36 constituencies of Khulna region, 166  in 21 constituencies of Barishal region, 142 in 15 constituencies of Faridpur region, 444  in 41 constituencies of Dhaka region, 311 in 38 constituencies of Mymensingh region, 146 in 19 constituencies of Sylhet region, 365  in 35 constituencies of Cumilla region, and 194  in 23 constituencies of Chattogram region. BNP enters election race with anti-fascist movement allies The candidates across the country submitted their nomination papers on Monday before the 5:00 pm deadline in a calm and orderly atmosphere for the upcoming national election. Most aspirants submitted their nomination papers on the final day as only 166 were submitted until Sunday. No incident of violence was reported anywhere in the country in connection with the submission of nomination papers on the final day. BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s nomination paper was submitted to contest the election from Feni-1, while BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s nomination papers were submitted to contest from Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman’s nomination papers were filed to the returning officer concerned to contest from Dhaka-15 constituency. Maintain law and order at any cost: Bangladesh’s police chief BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir submitted the nomination paper to contest from Thakurgaon-1 constituency, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted his nomination paper to run from Khulna-5 constituency. The number of aspirants, who submitted nomination papers, was 2,711 in the 12th general election held on January 07, 2024, what that was 3,065 in the 11th general election held on December 30, 2018.    The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. EC Secretary rules out further extension for nomination submission The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). This time the Commission appointed 69 returning officers –two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna) and 64 district deputy commissioners. The collection and submission of nomination papers started on December 12, a day after the announcement of the election schedule.

Three candidates – one each from Awami League and Jatiya Party and an independent - on Sunday submitted the nomination papers to contest Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-elections slated for November 02 next. The candidates are AL’s Marina Jahan, Jatiya Party’s Moktar Hossain and independent Humayun Kabir, according to the information provided by the Election Commission Secretariat on Sunday, the last valid day of the nomination submission. The date for scrutiny of nomination papers is Monday and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 17. The parliamentary constituency (Shahjadpur Upazila) fell vacant after the death of AL MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan on September 02 last. Read: Sirajganj-6 by-polls: AL picks Kabita Besides, a total of 41 mayoral aspirants filed their nomination papers in 10 municipalities to contest the seventh phase municipal election, scheduled to be held on the same date (November 02). But the mayoral election to two municipalities –Kasba in Brahmanbaria and Ramgarh in Khagrachhari-- is set to go unopposed as only AL nominated candidates filed their papers there. The two AL mayoral contenders are Golam Rabbani in Kasba and Rafiqul Alam (Kamal) in Ramgarh. In municipalities, the election to only mayoral post, not councillor posts or reserved seats is held in the partisan manner with the use of polls symbols of registered political parties. The deadline for nomination submission expired on Saturday. The date for scrutiny of nomination papers is Monday and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 17. Read: Cumilla-7 by-polls: Pran Gopal elected unopposed Alongside independent candidates, the contestants nominated by Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Bangladesh Workers’ Party submitted nomination papers in several places among the eight other municipalities. The eight other municipalities are Ghorashal in Narsingdi, Chhagalnaiya in Feni, Sonatala in Bogura, Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, Domar in Nilphamari, Lohagara in Narail, Pakundia in Kishoreganj and Chapainawabganj. Moreover, a total of 570 aspirants --123 women for reserved seats and 447 contestants for councillor posts -- filed nomination papers to run the election in the 10 municipalities, as per information provided by the EC Secretariat.

A total of 94 aspirants collected nomination papers from the ruling Awami League to try their luck in three upcoming by-elections : Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5, the party said on Thursday. The Awami League said 34 nominations have been sold for Dhaka-14, 25 for Sylhet-3 and 35 for Cumilla-5 until the sale closed at 5 pm Thursday. The by-polls in these constituencies are scheduled for July 28. The would-be candidates collected forms from Awami League’s President Sheikh Hasia's political office in Dhmonadhi maintaining Covid-19 health protocol, said the party. The aspirants already have started campaigning through the posters, offline and online in their respective area alongside lobbying with the senior leaders. The seats became vacant due to the death of members of parliament. Among them, Sylhet-3 MP Mahmud Us Samad died on March 11, Dhaka-14 MP Aslamul Haque on April 4 and Comilla-5 MP Abdul Matin Khasru on April 14. Voting in these constituencies could not be held within 90 days of the vacancy. So, the polls would take place in the subsequent 90 days, the Election Commission said.

A total of forty aspirants for the Awami League candidacy in the upcoming Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5 by-elections collected the nomination papers in the first two days. Awami League sources told UNB that eleven, nine and twenty aspirants collected the papers for Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5 respectively. The ruling party started the sale of nomination forms on Friday (June 4) and it will continue till June 10. Also read: Fifth phase municipality polls: AL nomination board sits Saturday Aspirants will be able to collect and submit their forms from 11am to 5pm from party president Sheikh Hasia's political office in Dhanmondi.

The 4th phase polls to 56 municipalities in different districts will be held on February 14 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission on Sunday.

Twenty-two aspirants on Thursday bought BNP’s nomination forms to contest the upcoming by-polls to four parliamentary seats in Dhaka, Naogaon and Sirajganj.

Two aspirants on Sunday bought BNP’s nomination forms to contest the upcoming Panna-4 by-election.