SM Shahjada Saju, nephew of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, has been primarily selected as the ruling Awami League's nominee for Patuakhali-3 in the upcoming election, multiple party sources said.

The High Court has stressed the need for a strong message to avert brutal crimes like the abduction and killing of seven men in Narayanganj in 2014.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman did not violate electoral code of conduct by interviewing nomination seekers from the party through videoconference, the EC secretary said yesterday.

Local administration officials had to pull down campaign materials in several places across the country yesterday as many parliamentary aspirants didn't remove their posters and banners within the Sunday deadline.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has been unreachable for most of the party ranks over the last couple of days. He is staying in a house at Gulshan instead of his residence, President Park, in Baridhara.

Around 25 lawmakers from the ruling Awami League may not get party tickets to contest the December 30 national election.

Grassroots leaders of the BNP's Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions yesterday pledged to stay in the electoral race regardless of the situation and support the candidates to be nominated by the party.

The government has imposed a restriction on all kinds of outdoor celebrations on the 31st night on the eve of New Year 2019 due to the general election.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday appealed to the High Court, challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her to seven years' imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

The Awami League yesterday questioned BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's involvement in the party's nomination process for the upcoming national election.

Separate electoral symbols were reserved for all the political parties when they registered with the Election Commission in 2008. Their candidates are supposed to run for elections with own symbols.

Some incumbent Awami League lawmakers and top leaders are unlikely to get party nomination this time, as the ruling party has decided to part with controversial and unpopular candidates, multiple sources have said.

Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed yesterday said members of Bangladesh Army would perform their duties professionally if they are deployed during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

It is for the Election Commission, not for the government, to ensure a level-playing field for the election, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

A key United Nations committee endorsed a resolution on Friday expressing "grave concern" and "strongly condemning" all violations and abuses of human rights against Rohingyas in Myanmar.

Reza Kibria, son of slain former Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria, wants to contest the December 30 parliamentary polls under Jatiya Oikyafront from Habiganj-1 constituency.

Bangladesh should be branded as an emerging ICT destination as opposed to being marketed as a place with the cheapest labour, speakers said at the third The Daily Star ICT Awards ceremony yesterday.

Ending all speculation and controversies about his finger injury, Bangladesh Test captain Shakib Al Hasan is all set to return to action after selectors included him in the 13-member Test squad for the first Test against the West Indies.

Saying that the Jatiya Oikyafront would not boycott the upcoming national election, its top leader Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday called upon the alliance men and all others to guard the polling centres so that voters could exercise their franchise.

The Awami League is willing to offer its 14-party allies 15 seats -- the number of constituencies they currently hold -- against their demand for 120, said one of the alliance leaders.