AL nomination forms revenue exceeds megaproject tolls

The ruling Awami League has earned a total of Tk 16.81 crore by selling 3,362 nomination papers for 300 constituencies in just four days for the 12th parliamentary elections, set to be held on January 7. 

It means the party generated over Tk 4.2 crore per day on average, just from selling nomination forms - and that is after slowing down in the last two days. The sales started with a bang on Saturday, the very first day, racking up Tk 5.4 crore for the party coffers. That was followed by an even more lucrative Tk 6.6 crore on Sunday. 

For comparison, the country's flagship development project, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, generated just Tk 2.09 crore in tolls on the first day that it was opened to the public (June 26, 2022). The total amount collected after the first four days was just over Tk 8 crore.  The highest amount it has ever generated in a single day was Tk 4.6 crore on June 28, 2023.

Getting back to the AL nominations, the highest 730 nomination forms were sold for constituencies in Dhaka division, followed by 659 for Chattogram's constituencies, 416 for Khulna constituencies, 409 for Rajshahi, 302 for constituencies in Rangpur, 295 for Mymensingh, 258 for Barishal, and 172 for constituencies in Sylhet. 

Awami League started selling nomination forms for the 12th parliamentary elections as the Chief Election Commissioner announced that the national election will be held on January 7. 

Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the selling of party nomination forms for the 12th parliamentary elections of Bangladesh on Saturday (November 18, 2023) by collecting her nomination form.

According to AL Office Secretary Biplab Barua, despite a decrease in the number of nomination forms sold, the Awami League has reported far higher earnings compared to 2018, when it sold 4100 forms, generating an income of Tk 12.32 crore.

The increased income can thus be attributed to a hike in the nomination form fee. In 2018, each form was priced at Tk 30,000, whereas this year, it has been increased to Tk 50,000.

Of the total of 3,362 forms sold this year, only 121 forms were sold online.

The AL sale has attracted celebrities such as cricket superstar Shakib Al Hasan, who plans to retire from the game in 2025. His representatives bought three nomination forms - for two constituencies in Magura and one in Dhaka - for Shakib to contest the election, which will return a parliament with a five-year term lasting till 2029, ceteris paribus. 

On November 19, Dhallywood’s popular actress Mahiya Mahi also collected her nomination form to contest the Chapainawabganj-2 constituency from Awami League, if ultimately chosen by the party.