Ashekeen Prince, Senior ReporterAshekin Prince, Senior Reporter

Nineteen candidates from nine constituencies in Dhaka have withdrawn their nomination papers in the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. Information about the withdrawal of these nomination papers has been received by noon on Tuesday (January 20), the last day for withdrawal of candidacy according to the Election Commission (EC) schedule. Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until 5 pm.

According to Election Commission sources, candidates from several political parties in different constituencies in Dhaka have voluntarily withdrawn their candidacies. Among the withdrawers are candidates from several parties including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), Gana Sanghati Andolan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh. EC sources said that a total of 19 candidates from these nine constituencies—Dhaka-5, Dhaka-6, Dhaka-7, Dhaka-8, Dhaka-9, Dhaka-10, Dhaka-12, Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15—have withdrawn their nomination papers. These withdrawals were completed through written applications to the offices of the concerned returning officers.

Meanwhile, according to the announced schedule, the date of allocation of symbols is Wednesday (January 21). The formal election campaign of the contesting candidates will start from January 22.

According to the schedule, voting will be held continuously from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on Thursday, February 12. Voting for the 13th National Parliament Election and referendum will be completed in transparent ballot boxes through ballot papers.

Law regarding withdrawal of candidacy: The EC circular on withdrawal of candidacy states that any candidate who has been legally nominated as per Section 16 of the ‘Representation of the People Order, 1972’ can withdraw his candidacy by giving a written notice to the Returning Officer within the specified date, either himself or through a written authorized representative.

In addition, if a registered political party nominates more than one candidate in a constituency, the final candidate nomination has to be determined through a letter signed by the party president or general secretary. In such a case, the other nominees are not considered as candidates.

The circular further states that once a written notice for withdrawal of nomination papers is given or a political party announces its final nomination, it cannot be cancelled or changed.

The appeal process against the order of acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers by the Returning Officer has already been completed as per the schedule of the Election Commission (EC).