Jebunnesa Afroj, wife of former Awami League leader and lawmaker Sawkat Hossain Hiron, submitted the nomination paper as the ruling Awami League candidate on Sunday for the by-elections to Barisal-5 constituency (Sadar upazila).
Barisal district Awami League president Abul Hasnat Abdullah submitted the nomination paper in favour of Jebunnesa Afroj at about 10:00am on Sunday on the last day of submission of nomination paper.
Besides, independent candidate Syed Moazzem Hossain and Barisal city unit Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) president Saiful Islam submitted their nomination papers for the constituency.
Assistant returning officer at Barisal regional election officer's office Dulal Talukder told Prothom Alo that as many as three candidates submitted their candidatures for the by-elections.
Before submitting the nomination paper in favour of the Awami League, a rally of the Barisal city unit AL leaders and activists was held on the Sohel Square in Barisal city in the morning.
Addressing the rally as the chief guest, industries minister and AL advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu said that Jebunnesa herself did not seek nomination from the AL.
"The AL leaders of 30 wards and 10 union councils of Barisal city sought for her nomination from the party. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fulfilled their demand. So, you should work jointly to elect Jebunnesa in the elections by showing respects to the prime minister's decision," Amu said.
Awami League Parliamentary Board (ALPB) at a meeting held on 8 May at Ganabhaban, the official residence of the prime minister, nominated Jebunnesa as its candidate to contest the by-elections.
The by-election to Barisal-5 constituency that fell vacant following the death of Awami League lawmaker Shawkat Hossain Hiron will be held on 12 June, according to a decision of the Election Commission (EC).
Chief election commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced the by-election schedule at a press conference at the EC media centre on 28 April.
According to the schedule, the date of scrutiny of the nomination papers is 14 May while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is 11 May.
The constituency has a total of 342,228 voters and they will be able to exercise their franchise through 159 possible polling stations for the by-polls. The constituency comprises of Barisal City Corporation (30 wards) and Barisal Sadar Upazila (nine union councils).
Hiron, former mayor of Barisal City Corporation and ex-president of Barisal City Awami League, died at the Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka on 9 April following a brain haemorrhage.