report in Prothom Alo, Dec 16, 2023
Ruling Awami League has almost finalised its seat sharing with its partners and allies. Partners of the 14-party alliance have been given seven seats. Awami League has no intention of giving them any more seats.
Outside of that, leaders of the so-called “king’s parties” –Supreme Party, Trinomool BNP, BNM, and the party leaving the BNP alliance – Kalyan Party, have been given assurance of victory in the election. But the Awami League candidates in these seats have no intention of giving up their candidacy in these seats.
Sources of Awami League, partners and allies said that the 14-party leaders who have been given seven seats in the sharing process, will contest with the ‘boat’ symbol.
Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon would be given the Barishal-3 seat, according to Awami League. Menon was not comfortable about competing from here. Later, on Friday, he was given the Barishal-2 seat instead.
On Friday night the Jatiya Party reached an understanding for 26 seats with the ruling party. Awami League intends to keep the matter of seat sharing with other allies completely informal. The alliances have been given assurances about the seats.
Awami League sources say a total of 40 seats of the total 300 may be left for the partners and allies, formally and informally. Outside of JaPa and the 14 Party, assurance has been given to Kalyan Party’s General Muhammad Ibrahim that he will win in the Cox’s Bazar seat. BNM’s Shah Abu Zafar is being assured of a win in Faridpur. Trinomool BNP’s Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury is contesting from Sylhet and Taimur Alam Khandakar from Narayanganj. They have been given assurances too.
There has been no understanding reached with former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury’s party Bikalpadhara. The nomination papers of the party secretary general MA Mannan have been cancelled. B Chowdhury’s son Mahi B Chowdhury is contesting from the Munishiganj-1 seat. https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/politics/epexqttoi0
