Monday, 29 December, 2025
With the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming national election set for Monday, nearly 99 per cent of aspirants who have collected the forms are yet to file them, apparently waiting until the final day.
“A total of 2,780 nomination papers have been collected to contest elections in the country’s 300 constituencies, but only 31 papers had been submitted as of 2:30 pm on Sunday,” Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Sunday evening.
Election officials said the submission deadline will expire at 5:00 pm on Monday.
Md Yunus Ali, the returning officer for Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15, said 29 nomination papers were collected in the two constituencies, but only three had been submitted by Sunday. “Most candidates usually submit their papers on the last day,” he added.
The Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election on December 11, alongside a referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order. Both votes are scheduled for February 12.
Under the election timetable, the deadline for filing nomination papers is December 29, while candidates may withdraw their nominations until January 20. Election campaigns will officially begin on January 22 and continue until 48 hours before polling, which starts at 7:30 am on February 12.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission clarified on Sunday that submitting income tax information of an aspirant’s spouse, children and dependants in the nomination form is optional.
The clarification was issued in a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including divisional commissioners, regional election officers and district deputy commissioners, following a request from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
“Regarding serial 10 of the affidavit, providing income tax information of the spouse, children and dependants listed in columns 2, 3 and 4 of the income tax section shall be considered optional,” the commission said.
However, the EC stressed that candidates must still submit statements of income sources, assets and liabilities of fully dependent family members, as required under Clause 12(3)(ka)(c) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972.
The clarification followed a meeting between a three-member BNP delegation, led by standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Nazrul Islam Khan said the RPO does not explicitly require disclosure of children’s tax information, yet the nomination form had created confusion. “Many candidates’ children are financially independent, live abroad or pay taxes separately. This has caused uncertainty,” he said.
In a separate development, the Election Commission on Sunday confirmed that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman have been included in the voter list for the February 12 election.
“They have been incorporated into the voter list that will be used in the upcoming polls,” Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said.
Earlier in the day, the commission approved their enlistment after both completed National Identity Card registration, including biometric data and photographs, at the EC’s NID office in Dhaka.
The Election Commission has also asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to take a series of measures to ensure a fair and peaceful election. These include recovering illegal arms, maintaining communal harmony, ensuring minority protection, deploying law enforcement forces, securing election offices and materials, preventing misinformation and disinformation, and providing security for foreign observers and journalists.
In letters sent to relevant ministries, the EC emphasised the need to secure the transportation, storage and distribution of election materials, safeguard returning officers’ offices, and deploy law enforcement personnel in polling areas several days ahead of voting.
The commission has also written to the Cabinet Division, Foreign Ministry, Local Government Division, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, seeking coordinated action to support the electoral process.
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With the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the upcoming national election set for Monday, nearly 99 per cent of aspirants who have collected the forms are yet to file them, apparently waiting until the final day.
“A total of 2,780 nomination papers have been collected to contest elections in the country’s 300 constituencies, but only 31 papers had been submitted as of 2:30 pm on Sunday,” Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Sunday evening.
Election officials said the submission deadline will expire at 5:00 pm on Monday.
Md Yunus Ali, the returning officer for Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15, said 29 nomination papers were collected in the two constituencies, but only three had been submitted by Sunday. “Most candidates usually submit their papers on the last day,” he added.
The Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election on December 11, alongside a referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order. Both votes are scheduled for February 12.
Under the election timetable, the deadline for filing nomination papers is December 29, while candidates may withdraw their nominations until January 20. Election campaigns will officially begin on January 22 and continue until 48 hours before polling, which starts at 7:30 am on February 12.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission clarified on Sunday that submitting income tax information of an aspirant’s spouse, children and dependants in the nomination form is optional.
The clarification was issued in a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including divisional commissioners, regional election officers and district deputy commissioners, following a request from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
“Regarding serial 10 of the affidavit, providing income tax information of the spouse, children and dependants listed in columns 2, 3 and 4 of the income tax section shall be considered optional,” the commission said.
However, the EC stressed that candidates must still submit statements of income sources, assets and liabilities of fully dependent family members, as required under Clause 12(3)(ka)(c) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972.
The clarification followed a meeting between a three-member BNP delegation, led by standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Nazrul Islam Khan said the RPO does not explicitly require disclosure of children’s tax information, yet the nomination form had created confusion. “Many candidates’ children are financially independent, live abroad or pay taxes separately. This has caused uncertainty,” he said.
In a separate development, the Election Commission on Sunday confirmed that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman have been included in the voter list for the February 12 election.
“They have been incorporated into the voter list that will be used in the upcoming polls,” Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said.
Earlier in the day, the commission approved their enlistment after both completed National Identity Card registration, including biometric data and photographs, at the EC’s NID office in Dhaka.
The Election Commission has also asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to take a series of measures to ensure a fair and peaceful election. These include recovering illegal arms, maintaining communal harmony, ensuring minority protection, deploying law enforcement forces, securing election offices and materials, preventing misinformation and disinformation, and providing security for foreign observers and journalists.
In letters sent to relevant ministries, the EC emphasised the need to secure the transportation, storage and distribution of election materials, safeguard returning officers’ offices, and deploy law enforcement personnel in polling areas several days ahead of voting.
The commission has also written to the Cabinet Division, Foreign Ministry, Local Government Division, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, seeking coordinated action to support the electoral process.
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