Dhaka, Jan. 20 -- The Election Commission (EC) has asked the government to ensure security for Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and six other party candidates.

In a separate directive, the commission also called for similar protective measures for Mojibur Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the Gazipur-1 constituency.

Separate letters were issued to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday and Tuesday, in accordance with requests made by the nominees for the general election.

The six other Jamaat candidates are deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Mujibur Rahman, ATM Azharul Islam, Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad and Rafiqul Islam Khan.

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