AL’s ex-state minister Abu Sayeed joins Gono Forum

Awami League’s former state minister for information Abu Sayeed today has joined Gono Forum, a component of the Jatiya Oikyafront, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

Professor Abu Sayeed collected the nomination papers from Gono Forum’s Arambagh office this afternoon, the daily reported.

“He will now meet Dr Kamal Hossain at his chamber,” the daily reports quoting Gono Forum’s General Secretary Mostofa Mohsin as saying.

Professor Abu Sayeed had earlier bought nomination papers to contest the polls from Awami League but did not get the nomination, the daily reports.

Shamsul Haque Tuku got the nomination for Pabna-1 from AL.

HOW MANY CANDIDATES DID AL PICKED?

Yesterday, Awami League handed out nomination letters to 248 aspirantspicking around 50 new faces to run for the upcoming parliamentary polls and dropping 38 MPs.

The party said it has kept some 70 seats for allies including Jatiya Party, the main opposition in the current parliament. The final decision may come today.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

Election Commission has revised polls schedule, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30 – a decision taken on November 12.

The authorities have fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date of withdrawal.

The move came following demands from several opposition political parties.