MOHIUDDIN ALAMGIR and AHMED DEEPTO

Aspirants from 51 of the country’s 59 registered political parties have filed nomination papers for the national election scheduled for February 12, according to Election Commission data.

The Awami League is formally excluded from the polls as its registration remains withheld. Seven other registered parties also refrained from filing nominations. At least five of them had previously been allies of Awami League-led governments between 2008 and August 2024.

According to EC data, 2,569 aspirants -- 2,091 from political parties and 478 independents -- submitted nomination papers ahead of Monday’s deadline. BNP topped the list with 331 submissions, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami with 276, Islami Andolon Bangladesh with 268, and Jatiya Party (GM Quader) with 224. AB Party and National Citizen Party aspirants filed nominations for 53 and 44 constituencies, respectively.

However, confusion arose over the nomination EC

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