With the withdrawal deadline passing, a total of 1,967 candidates will contest the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections, according to Election Commission (EC).

EC Secretariat Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer Md. Ruhul Amin Mallick said the remaining candidates; comprising nominees from political parties as well as independents, will contest in 298 constituencies, excluding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2.

Initially, 2,585 nomination papers were submitted for 300 parliamentary seats. The deadline for the withdrawal of candidatures expired at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, in line with the election schedule.

The EC will allot electoral symbols on Wednesday, while election campaigning is set to begin from Thursday (January 22).Campaign activities will continue until 48 hours before polling day.

Voting for the 13th JS elections and the referendum will be held on Thursday, (February 12) from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM without any break. Balloting will be conducted using transparent ballot boxes and printed ballot papers.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the election schedule in a televised address to the nation on December 11. The final date for submission of nomination papers was December 29.