The deadline for withdrawing candidacy is today; symbols will be allocated on Wednesday

As the countdown to the 13th National Parliamentary Elections continues, today, Tuesday, marks the final day for candidates to withdraw their nominations. According to the schedule issued by the Election Commission (EC), the allocation of election symbols will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 21 January. Campaigning by the rival candidates is set to commence on 22 January.

Polling is scheduled for 12 February, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., conducted continuously. Voting will be carried out using ballot papers, with votes cast into transparent ballot boxes, ensuring a fully transparent and accountable election process.

The EC’s notification on candidate withdrawal refers to Section 16 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, which states that a duly nominated candidate may withdraw their nomination in person or through a written authorised representative by submitting a signed written notice to the Returning Officer on or before the stipulated date.

In cases where a registered political party has nominated more than one candidate in a constituency, the party president, general secretary, or an equivalent authority must submit a written notice to the Returning Officer, either personally or through an authorised representative, indicating the final candidate for that constituency. Once finalised, all other candidates from the party will no longer be considered valid candidates.

It is important to note that once a withdrawal notice is submitted or a party’s final candidate nomination is confirmed, it cannot be rescinded or revoked under any circumstances. Upon verification of the signature, the Returning Officer will publicly display a copy of the notice at the office for transparency.

Following the withdrawal deadline, the Returning Officer will prepare and publish the final list of contesting candidates. On 21 January, election symbols will be assigned, and the candidates’ names will be listed in Bengali alphabetical order on Form-5, in accordance with legal provisions.

According to EC data, as of 4 January, Returning Officers had received a total of 2,568 nomination papers across 300 constituencies. Out of these, 1,842 were accepted as valid and 723 were rejected.

The schedule also confirms that appeals against Returning Officers’ decisions regarding nominations concluded last Sunday. Out of 645 appeals submitted to the EC, 425 were upheld, 209 rejected, and 11 withdrawn.

Summary of Nominations and Appeals (as of 4 January):

The electoral process is now entering its final preparatory phase, with symbol allocation tomorrow and campaigning set to energise constituencies ahead of the historic elections on 12 February.