Multiple offices to receive nomination papers

Chairman and councillor aspirants in the second phase of the Union Parishad elections will get the opportunity to submit applications for candidacies at multiple government offices instead of at a single desk.

The Election Commission will introduce the system to make the submission of nomination papers hassle-free, said election commissioner Shah Nawaz yesterday.

The move came following BNP's demand for setting up an alternative desk to receive nomination papers as the party alleged that the ruling Awami League men had barred BNP's candidates from submitting applications to returning officers in many places .

"We have received allegations from some places that candidates could not submit nomination papers in the first phase of the election. We don't want to have these allegations again. That's why we are going to introduce the new system," Shah Nawaz told reporters at his office.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers in the first phase expired on February 22, while the deadline is March 2 for the second phase.

As per the electoral rules, candidates submit nomination papers to the returning officer (RO). In case of Union Parishad polls, Upazila Election Officers (UEOs) and officers with equivalent ranks perform the duty of ROs.

Replying to a query, the commissioner said it was not decided yet which other offices would be receiving the papers, but the EC was initially thinking of the office of the district election officer or of the deputy commissioner (DC).

When attention was drawn about BNP's allegation that the EC is playing a biased role, Shah Nawaz said these were generalised allegations, not specific.

Election to 738 UPs will be held on March 22 in the first phase, while the second phase election is scheduled for March 31.

For the first time in the country, elections for the post of chairman will be held in partisan lines, and 16 political parties, out of the total 40, are participating in the polls.