How many candidates are to contest the elections with sickle' as their symbol? The Election Commission Itself finds It difficult to determine the number.

This also explains why the Commission has not yet succeeded in announcing a complete list of candidates and their symbols, said an official source on Saturday.

Sickle, the official symbol of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awa mt league. (BKSAL) found new claimants when February 12 an electoral alliance 'Gonotantrik Oikya Jotc' (GOJ) • own rage i vol J wan formed by the b-patty al Hance and seven components of 8-party with a decision to UK sickle as common symbol.

The short-lived GOJ had even finalised adjustment of 118 seats among its candidates when Bangladesh Awaml League tn a dramatic move offered 36 seats to the breakaway components of 8-party But by then many candidates had withdrawn in favour of GOJ candidates who got the sickle symbol.

Those candidates who got offer of adjustment from Awaml League quickly changed their symbols to boat'. The alone exception was Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed of NAP (M) who remained firm to fight with his party symbol hut

The confusion was such that Communist Party's General Secretary Salfuddin Ahmed Manik got the boat while CPB secretariat member Mujahidul Islam Selim retained sickle even though their party symbol is star'.

Candidates of some components of 8-party are using three symbols-boat. sickle' aiu! their respective party symbols. and components of the 5 party alliance are using shkk-' and their respective party symbols.

Ilie Election Commission jourrt said they have sent telexes messages to Returning Officers to help determine how many candidates are using sickle' and which parties do they actually represent

Twenty-one out of 90 political parties which had sought symbols have not nominated any candidate for the election The parties are : Bangladesh Samajlk Sangsad. Zehad Party Bangladesh Islamic Republican Party. Jatiya Islamic Dal. Krishak Sramlk Party (Sulaiman). United Peoples Party. Bangladesh Janaganatantrik Dal. Naya Ganatantrik Jatiya Party. Bangladesh Republican Party. Jatiya Ganatantrl Dal. Bangladesh Jatiya League. Bangladesh Gana Azadi League (Samad). Jatiya Palli Dal. Krishak Sramlk party (Aztzul Huq Sahahjahan). Olkya Pra kriya. Jatiya Biplabi Party. Sat Daliya Sangraml Jote. Bangladesh Khadem Party I Zindabad. Bangladesh Sarba hara Party. Muslim Peoples ' 1‘uriv. and Somata Party