The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday sent a letter to the Bangladesh Government Press asking for printing some 3.5 crore ballot papers for holding elections to 146 constituencies on January 5 next.
However, the work on printing the ballot papers will start after two to three days as the commission needs more time to finalise the contesting candidates.
According to unofficial statistics available at the EC secretariat on Sunday, there is no need to arrange election to 154 constituencies where 154 lone candidates, mostly from Awami League, are set to be elected uncontested.
The voters of five districts will completely be deprived of exercising their voting rights in the January 5 elections. The districts include Chandpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari, Madaripur and Joypurhat.
A total of 387 candidates will run the electoral race in the 146 constituencies.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad and his four deputies passed a hectic day with four informal marathon parleys on Sunday to discuss as to why the number of single candidates rose after the December 13 deadline for withdrawal of candidatures, EC sources said.
Besides, the statistics show that election will be held in one constituency of 17 districts while in two constituencies of 18 districts.
There are no Awami League candidates in 25 parliamentary seats as the running party aspirants withdrew their nomination in most of the seats to facilitate the winning of Jatiya Party candidates.
Meanwhile, Awami League and Jatiya Party candidates will contest in 26 parliamentary seats.
Besides, there are no political party candidates other than independent ones against Awami League in 21 constituencies.
AL candidates will fight with candidates of Workers’ Party, Jasad and JP-Manju in at least 24 parliamentary seats.
Source: UNBConnect
