Hasina to approve UP nominations of party candidates
Chief of Awami League Sheikh Hasina will approve nominations of aspiring candidates to contest the Union Parishad (UP) polls under the party symbol. The ruling party Awami League yesterday submitted a letter to the Election Commission (EC) stating that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the party chief, will approve the party candidates. Talking to journalists on the premises of EC, AL Information and Research Secretary Afzal Hossain said, As its required to submit the name of the person who will nominate candidates, we submitted the letter in this regard to the Commission. Party President Sheikh Hasina will sign nominations of aspiring candidates.
As per election rules, the political parties will send the names of persons, who will have the power to nominate aspiring candidates of the UP polls within seven days of announcing the election schedule. The candidates will submit nomination papers with the authorized signature. The EC announced the schedule of the first phase of UP polls on February 11 and declared that the first phase of elections to 752 UPs will be held on March 22. The registered 40 political parties will have to submit the name of the persons with power of attorney by February 18.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission yesterday said it dropped 13 UPs from the election schedule due to legal complications. Now, the first phase of elections will be held at 739 UPs.
The UPs dropped from the first phase are Sri Rampur union of Najirpur upazila of Pirojpur district, Mehendiganj, Alimabad, Char Ekkaria, Lota, Gobindapur, Andarmanik unions of Barisal district, Amtali union of Barguna district, Ayubpur union of Brahmanbaria district, Nanapur union of Chittagong district, Ailhas and Nagdaha unions of Chuadanga district, Syedpur and Lordhardings unions of Bhola district.
EC sources said there were some errors in the UP list that was sent from the local government to the EC, including delimitation and other issues.
