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High demand for AL, BNP symbols

10 parties want to contest polls with boat, sheaf of paddy

MOHIUDDIN ALAMGIR
At least 10 registered political parties have informed the Election Commission that they would contest the national election with electoral symbols of the Awami League and BNP.
In separate letters, the parties conveyed the information to the EC.
Seven of these parties are members of the BNP-led 20-party alliance who want to use symbol of BNP. On the other side, two belong to ruling AL-led 14-party alliance who want to use symbol of the AL, EC officials said.
Besides, a newly floated alliance Jatiya Oikyafront member, also a faction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, expressed its desire to use BNP symbol in the polls scheduled to be held on December 23.
As many as 39 political parties are registered with the EC.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance would contest the 11th parliamentary election with BNP's symbol of "sheaf of paddy".
The alliance wrote to the EC yesterday confirming its decision to take part in the election and its symbol.
A delegation led by Bijon Kami Sarker, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, handed over the letter to the commission. Bijon said they handed over a list of eight registered parties who would use BNP symbol.
Apart from BNP, registered parties including Liberal Democratic Party,
Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Canatantrik Party, Bangladesh Muslim League and Jamiate Ulamae Islam Bangladesh would use BNP's symbol.
Meanwhile, AL Organising Secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Noufel said the registered parties of the 14-party alliance would contest the election as alliance partners.
He has not mentioned how many of the alliance members have agreed to it or which symbol they would use.
Workers Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Fazle Hossain Badshah told The Daily Star that they had informed the EC about using AL's electoral symbol "boat" under the alliance.
He added that other candidates of WPB would use their symbol of "hammer" while contesting the election separately.
Another Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction led by Hasanul Haque Inu informed the EC about a similar decision, said Shazzad Hossain, deputy office secretary of JSD.
Jatiya Oikyafront member and the JSD faction led by ASM Rob informed the EC about its decision to use BNP's symbol.
Bangladesh Krishok Sramik Party conveyed its desire to either use its own symbol or a symbol selected by the Jatiya Oikyafront.
The Gono Forum wants to use its own symbol "rising sun” for its
candidates who would contest the polls.
A faction of Bikolpadhara Bangladesh wants to use BNP's symbol, while Bangladesh Islamic Front wants to use its own symbol "candle", said EC and party sources.
Juktafront in a letter to EC has meanwhile demanded that the election be deferred by seven days.