Awami League has called the aspirant party leaders to collect the nomination paper to contest the by-election to Rangpur 3 constituency, beginning from Monday (Sept 2).
The ruling party’s call came a day after Jatiya Party requested AL not to field a candidate in the by-election as the Opposition wants to contest the polls under the AL-led grand alliance.
"Even though we [JP] are the opposition now, we participated in the 11th general election as the grand alliance. I request AL to not provide a candidate for Rangpur 3, in honour of Ershad," said JP Secretary General Md Mashiur Rahman Ranga told to reporters in Rangpur on Saturday (Aug 31).
The Rangpur 3 seat fell vacant after the constituency's lawmaker, and JP founding chairman HM Ershad died on Jul 14. The former military dictator had won all elections he took part in from this seat since in 1991.
In a statement issued on Sunday (Sept 1), AL said the aspirant party leaders can collect the nomination paper from at the party chief Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi offices in Dhaka.
Nomination papers will be available between Monday and Wednesday (Sept 4) from 10am to 5pm daily, it added.
The aspirants have been told to file the nomination papers by 5pm on Thursday (Sept 5) at the Dhanmondi offices, according to the statement.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Rangpur by-polls.
Voting will be held on Oct 5 with Electronic Voting Machine across the constituency.
According to the schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers is Sept 9, nomination papers will be selected on Sept 11 with the candidacy can be withdrawn till Sept 16.