Bangladesh, Jan. 21 -- The deadline for candidates to withdraw their nominations in the 13th national parliamentary election expires today, as returning officers are set to allot electoral symbols, marking the final major step before the formal start of campaigning.

According to the election schedule, electioneering will officially begin on January 22 and continue until 7:30am on February 10. Voting will be held on February 12 from 7:30am to 4:30pm.

A total of 2,568 nomination papers were submitted to contest the polls. During scrutiny, returning officers initially rejected 723 nominations. Those decisions were challenged before the Election Commission (EC), with 645 appeals filed.

After hearing the appeals, the EC restored the candida...