Dhaka, Nov 12 – A festive mood was prevailing at the BNP central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka city on Monday as hundreds of nominations seekers along with thousands of followers thronged the office since morning until 5:00 pm to buy nomination papers. Thousands of supporters and party leaders started thronging in front of the party central office chanting different anti-government slogans and in favour of their prospective candidates.
The jubilant supporters of the BNP could not hide their joy for having nomination papers after 10 years. The BNP had participated in the ninth parliamentary polls in 2008 and boycotted January 5, 2014
last elections.
The BNP office and adjacent areas have become so crowded while the selling of nomination papers started at 10:45 am with receiving nomination paper for BNP’s jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia for Feni-1
constituency by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Central leaders including standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo were present on the occasion.
Later, standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan collected nomination paper for Khaleda Zia for Bogura-6 and Mirza Abbas for Bogura-7 constituency.
Besides, Mirza Alamgir bought another nomination paper for himself to contest the election from Thakurgaon-1.
Party sources said about 1198 nomination papers were sold till 7:00 pm yesterday while the selling of nomination papers was supposed to continue till 8:00 pm.
Meanwhile, inaugurating the selling of nomination papers, the BNP leader warned that if the government fails to create a congenial atmosphere for elections, they would be compelled to reconsider their decision.
He alleged that there is no atmosphere of the election in the country saying that they are participating in the election is part of our movement strategy. “We will free our Chairperson Khaleda Zia through
our united movement,” he said.
The party leaders and activists staged showdown to mark the purchasing the nominations forms for 300 constituencies that created a celebratory atmosphere in front of the party office.
Huge presence of party leaders and activists, however, created traffic congestion in front of the party office and its adjacent areas till the evening.
The nomination papers were sold from six booths set up at first floor of the party office. The intending candidates have paid Tk 5,000 for each nomination paper and they would have to deposit Tk 25,000
(non-refundable) during submitting the nomination by Wednesday.
The BNP leaders those who collected nomination papers on the first day include party standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and his son Maruf Hossain for Comilla-1, Secchasebok Dal secretary Mir Sharafat Ali Sapu for Munshiganj-1, assistant organizing secretary
Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Kamal JamanMollah for Dhaka-11, journalist Mamun Chowdhury Stalin for Naogaon-6, Mofiqul Hasan Tripti for Jessore-1, Akhterul Alam Faruk for Mymensingh-6, Abdullah Al Faruk for Netrakona-4, Mehedy Hasan Noman for Natore-4, former MP Abdul Hye for Munshiganj-3, Mahbubul Alam and Firozuzzaman Mamun Mollah for Borguna-1.
Among the celebrities, singer Baby Naznin collected nomination form for Nilphamari-4 and film actor Helal Khan for Sylhet-6 constituency.
Party sources said the selling and deposition of nomination papers would continue for Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Earlier in the day, BNP’s two alliances –Jatiya Oikya Front and 20-Praty– announced to participate in the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections as part of their movement to restore democracy.
On Thursday evening, chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a televised address to the nation announced the schedule for the next general election.
As per the schedule, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on 23 December (Sunday) while the last date for submitting nomination papers is 19 November, the date for scrutinising nomination papers is 22 November and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is 29 November. – Staff Reporter
