A festive mood has started prevailing across the country centering the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election. The voting of the next general election will be held in 300 constituencies across the country on January 7, 2024. Some 32 registered political parties including Awami League and Jatiya Party have already declared the names of their candidates.
The last date for submission of nomination papers was November 30 and the scrutiny of nomination papers will be held between December 1 and 4. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is December 17. A total of 2,713 candidates have filed nomination papers against 300 parliamentary seats across the country to contest the next poll. Besides, a total of 747 independent candidates have also filed their nomination papers across the country.
People of the countryare eagerly waiting to franchise their voting rights. Currently, the total number of voters in the country are about 11,97,00,000 and the number of polling centres is around 42,000 with a total of 2,62,000 booths.
However, the BNP and like-minded parties have again enforced a 48-hour fresh road-rail-waterway blockade across the country starting from today (Sunday) morning to protest the schedule for the next national election. And they (BNP men) are carrying out arson attacks across the country in the name of movement in a bid to ruin the next general election.
People of the country
at eagerly waiting
to franchise their
voting rights
However, thirty former lawmakers, including 15 central leaders of BNP, are participating in the forthcoming polls. We think it is a big success that 32 political parties are participating in the upcoming election.
After five years, we see a festive atmosphere prevailing everywhere in the country centering the JS election. Therefore, the election is going to be held with people’s participation.
The government has repeatedly expressed its clear commitment to make the upcoming parliamentary elections free, fair, impartial, participatory and peaceful. And, the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal is also discharging its duties with honesty, integrity and sincerity to the best of its ability by taking all necessary assistance from the government to make the upcoming JS polls free, fair and peaceful.
Keeping this in mind, all candidates and political parties must follow the electoral code of conduct. Besides, all officials engaged in electoral duties must also perform their duties with honesty and devotion by properly understanding, upholding, and applying the laws and regulations. According to the national elections code of conduct, political parties or their candidates are prohibited from organising processions involving trucks, buses, motorcycles, or any mechanical vehicles, whether as a showdown or during campaigning. But, many candidates are still violating the electoral code of conduct.
All political parties must not instigate any violenceor create chaos. They (political parties and candidates) have the responsibilityto ensure the safety of people’slives and property if violent incidents occur. We think absolute tolerance, mutual trust and solidarity are the essential parameters for a sustainable and stable democracy. So, local leaders of Awami League, Jatiya Party and other political parties also have to pay attention to make their respective parties more disciplined in their constituency across the country.
