Political parties submit names of leaders authorised to recommend mayoral candidates to EC

Twelve parties have confirmed to the Election Commission their participation in the municipal elections slated for Dec 30.

The BNP and the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh had called for deferring the polls but the Election Commission (EC) made it clear that there was no scope for that.

Both the parties formally confirmed their participation on Saturday.

The BNP has authorised its Joint Secretary General Md Shahjahan to attest its mayor candidates for the elections to be held in 236 municipalities across Bangladesh.

“We have submitted the letter mentioning the name of the leader authorised to verify candidates to the EC. We have also forwarded 236 copies of the letter to the returning officers,” said BNP Assistant Publicity Secretary Imran Saleh Prince.

But the party did not submit any letter to reiterate its demand to defer the polls. “Senior leaders will comment on it. We are preparing to take part in the polls,” said Prince.

Meanwhile, Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina herself will recommend her party’s mayoral candidates.

Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad also reserved the right to recommend his party candidates himself.

AL Central Sub Committee Assistant Secretary Reazul Karim Kawser submitted the letter to the EC on Saturday.

Representatives of Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD), and the Anwar Hussain Manju-led Jatiya Party also submitted names of their party leaders authorised to recommend mayor aspirants.

EC officials said that by 6pm on Saturday, ten political parties had conveyed to the commission the names of their leaders authorised to recommend candidates.

Saturday was the last date for submitting the names of the authorised leaders.

While announcing the schedule for the polls on Nov 24, the EC introduced the ‘one party, one candidate’ rule for nominating mayor candidates.

This implies that the cancellation of nomination papers of a party’s chosen candidate will leave the party without a contestant for the post.

All candidates must file their nominations by Dec 3, which means the parties will have to select their mayoral candidates before that.