The death of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not impact the schedule of 13th National Parliamentary Election. The polls will also not be cancelled or suspended in the three constituencies where nomination papers were submitted on her behalf.
An official from the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat, on condition of anonymity, stated that electoral law only allows suspension of polls in a specific constituency in the event of a valid candidate’s death. But EC has not yet published the list of valid candidates for the election slated in February.
Although nomination papers were submitted for Khaleda Zia in three constituencies, the list of valid candidates for those seats has not been published yet. So, her death will not lead to the cancellation or suspension of the electoral process in these constituencies.
Nomination papers were submitted for Khaleda Zia in the Dinajpur-3, Bogura-7, and Feni-1 constituencies. In these constituencies, multiple alternative candidates from the BNP have also submitted nomination papers.
According to Section 15(1) of the electoral law, known as the Representation of the People Order, the Returning Officer of a constituency will publish the list of valid candidates after the scrutiny of nomination papers.
Additionally, after the withdrawal period ends, the returning officer will publish the list of “contesting” candidates.
Section 17(1) states that if a valid candidate, who has not withdrawn their nomination, passes away, the returning officer shall issue a gazette notification cancelling the election process in that constituency.
A new schedule for holding the election in that seat will then be announced. However, other contesting candidates, who have already submitted nomination papers, will not need to submit fresh papers.
According to the schedule for the 13th parliamentary election, the nomination paper submission period ended across the country on Monday. Scrutiny of nomination papers will continue until 4 January. So, the returning officers will publish the list of valid candidates.
The last date for valid candidates to withdraw their nomination papers is 20 January.
