A total of 2,713 candidates have submitted their nomination papers to vie for 300 parliamentary seats across the country in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7, 2024.
Among them, 1,966 are affiliated with 32 registered political parties, while the remaining 747 others are independents. That means that nine candidates on average are set to vie for each parliamentary seat.
The Election Commission (EC) collected the data in collaboration with election officials working on the national polls across the country after the deadline for nomination papers expired on Thursday.
Additional Secretary of the Election Commission Ashok Kumar Debnath disclosed the information on Friday.
As per the EC data, Awami League has fielded 303 candidates; Jatiya Party fielded candidates for 304 seats; Trinamool BNP in 151 seats, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in 91 seats, Islami Oikya Jote in 45 seats, Zaker Party in 218 seats, Islamic Front Bangladesh in 39 seats, Bangladesh Workers Party in 33 seats, Krishak Sramik Janata League in 34 seats, Bangladesh Islami Front in 37 seats, Jatiya Gano Front in 25 seats, Gano Forum in nine; and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh in one seats.
Besides, National People’s Party has fielded candidates in 142 seats, Bangladesh Muslim League in two seats, Bangladesh Khilafat Movement in 13 seats, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation in 47 seats, Jatiya Party (JP) in 20 seats, Communist Party of Bangladesh in six seats, Ganatantri Party in 12 seats, Bangladesh National Awami Party in six seats, Bikaplo Dhara
Bangladesh in 14 seats, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal in one seat, Bangladesh Jatiya Party in 13 seats, Bangladesh Kalyan Party in 18 seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish in one seat, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) in five seats, Bangladesh Sanskritick Muktijote in 74 seats, Bangladesh Nationalist
Front (BNF) in 55 seats, Bangladesh Congress in 116 seats, Bangladesh Nationalist Movement in 49 seats, and Bangladesh Supreme Party in 82 seats.
As per the EC poll schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from December 1 to 4, filing of appeals against any decision of returning officers with the EC and their disposal will continue from December 5 to 15, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17.
Poll symbols will be allotted to the political parties taking part in the upcoming national polls and election campaign will begin on December 18 and will continue till 8:00am on January 5.
The number of voters in the country stands at about 11.97 crore. A total of 42,000 polling stations will be set up across the country and there will have 2.62 lakh booths for casting votes.
Earlier, the 11th parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018 and the first session of that parliament was held on January 30, 2019. According to the Constitution, the 12th national election must be held by January 29, 2024.