34 parties including BNP don’t respond to EC

The Election Commission (EC) has written to 44 parties, including BNP, seeking to know who will sign the nomination papers.

However, only 10 parties, including the Awami League, responded to the EC letters till 7:30 pm on Saturday. The remaining 34 parties, including the BNP, did not respond to the EC letters.

The commission issued a circular asking the parties to inform it by Saturday (November 18) if they want to participate in the general election slated for January 7 in alliance. Letters in this regard were sent to president-general secretary or equivalent posts.

The Awami League said they will participate in the general election in alliance and will hold the parliamentary elections with the ‘Boat’ symbol, and it will give the nomination under the signature of the party president.

Apart from Awami League, nine other parties including Jatiya Party (Manju), Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), Bangladesh Workers Party, Trinamool BNP and Jatiya Party (Raushan Ershad) have applied to join the election.

Additional Secretary of Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Ashok Kumar Debnath said AL has not mentioned in its letter that with which party/parties, it will form an alliance.

As per the letters received, Samyabadi Dal, Bangladesh Workers Party and Gonotantri Party have said they will hold election with the 'Boat' symbol, he added.