Mohiuddin Alamgir

The number of independent aspirants submitting nomination papers for the upcoming national polls is at an all time high.

The BNP and its like-minded parties are formally out of the polls as nobody from those submitted nomination papers yesterday, the deadline for the submissions.

A total of 21 aspirants submitted their nomination papers online ahead of the 12th national election -- almost half the number of online submissions compared to the previous polls, Election Commission officials said today.

The deadline for submitting nomination forms to the election commission expires today, and as the BNP has not backtracked on its decision to boycott the election, it is not likely that the deadline will be extended.

Twenty-three of the 44 registered political parties, mostly ruling alliance members, little-known and recently-formed ones, have shown interest to take part in the January 7 national election until Sunday. They have also written letters to the commission in this regard.

The pass rate in this year’s HSC examinations has dropped to 75.90 percent from last year’s 84.31, while the number of students with a GPA-5 has halved from last year’s 1,59,755.

For 14 years in a row, girls have outperformed boys in terms of pass rate in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams.

The pass rate in this year's HSC examinations has dropped to 75.90 percent from last year's 84.31, while the number of students with a GPA-5 has halved from last year's 1,59,755

Girls have outperformed boys in terms of pass rate in Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams for 14 years in a row

The Election Commission does not have the means to effectively check whether people running for parliament stay within the limits for campaign spending.

The Election Commission appears to be indifferent to the numerous allegations of violations of electoral code of conduct by Awami League and Jatiya Party leaders hoping to run for parliament.

The Election Commission will consider  rescheduling the upcoming national polls if major opposition BNP decides to join it following political consensus.

The Election Commission estimates that around Tk 1,600 crore will be needed to hold the general election, which would makeit the most expensive polls in Bangladesh.

The demand for using the ruling Awami League’s electoral symbol “boat” seems high among the registered political parties, as the opposition BNP and allies remain unyielding in their demand for polls under a non-partisan administration.

Conflict within the Jatiya Party came to the fore once again as two top leaders wrote to the Election Commission yesterday about the authority to sign the nomination forms of candidates and taking part in the January 7 national election.

The Election Commission has decided to have an electoral enquiry committee in every constituency to ensure proper enforcement of the electoral code and prevent irregularities.

The Election Commission has directed all returning officers to prepare the panel of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers by November 22, ahead of the upcoming national polls.

The 12th general election will be on January 7, the Election Commission announced yesterday amid escalating tension between the major political parties over the polls-time government.

The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the 12th parliamentary polls this evening.

The Election Commission has decided to invite election management bodies from 42 countries to observe the upcoming parliamentary polls.