The AL President Sheikh Hasina was all out busy to finalise the constituencies she will share with its electoral alliance till 1:00am and finalised around 275 seats.

Complexities arose as the Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) were stick to their earlier demanded seats 60 and 40 respectively.

The AL could not reach a consensus on the delicate issue although AL President Sheikh Hasina and General Secretary Abdul Jalil held several lengthy meetings with the two main allies.

JP demanded 60 seats while LDP demanded 30 seats, but AL was ready to give a total of 52 and 27 seats until 1:00am to two parties.

Till filling this report bargaining between the two party top leaders was going on for another three seats. Following the bargaining a LDP leader MA Zinnah has quit the party and returned his earlier party BNP after being informed that he was not getting nomination.

The JP and LDP became upset as the AL struggled to offer parliamentary seats as it promised earlier, sources said.

Though the AL is still working on its list of candidates, the party top brass has given green signal to over 200 leaders to get ready for the polls.

The party has almost finalised candidates for the constituencies across Dhaka. They are Salman F Rahman (AL) for Dhaka-1, Mostafa Mohsin Montu (Gono Forum) for Dhaka-3, HM Ershad (JP) Dhaka-5, Saber Hossain Chowdhury (AL) Dhaka-6, Sayeed Khokon (AL) Dhaka-7, Haji Mohammad Selim (AL) Dhaka-8, barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud (AL) Dhaka-9, Major (retired) Abdul Mannan (LDP) Dhaka-10, Kamal Ahmed Majumdar (AL) Dhaka-11, Murad Jong (AL) Dhaka-12 and barrister Ziaur Rahman Khan (LDP) for Dhaka-13.

Shamim Osman, former AL lawmaker who has been accused of unleashing a campaign of terror in his constituency, and Joynal Hazari's sister have also been allowed to be on the party ticket. Former national cricket captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy and Principal Quazi Faruk Ahmed have been given AL nominations for Manikganj and Khulna.

"Our party chief Sheikh Hasina has selected the best possible candidates and we believe most of them will win," AL Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star last night.

The AL could not also keep its smaller partners happy too. It offered three seats to the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), three each to the Workers Party and Gono Forum, and one each to the Zaker Party, Islami Shasantantra Andolon and Fultali Pir. Sources said at least six seats would be given to different Islamic parties. Sources said these parties are expected to accept the seat offer eventually despite having dissatisfaction.

AL President Sheikh Hasina and JP Chairman HM Ershad will each contest the upcoming election from five constituencies, said sources within the parties.

Sheikh Hasina may contest the polls scheduled for January 22 from Narail-1, Gopalganj-3, Rangpur-6, Khulna-1 and Faridpur-1 constituencies.

HM Ershad is expected to stand for the election from Habiganj-3, Sylhet-3, Rangpur-3, Lalmonirhat-3 and Dhaka-5 his wife Rowshan Ershad will contest from Lalmonirhat-5 and Mymensingh Sadar.

Of the other top leaders, AL Presidium Member Zillur Rahman will run for the election from Kishoreganj-7, Sajeda Chowdhury from Faridpur-2, Amir Hossain Amu from Jhalakathi-1, Abdur Razzak from Shariatpur-3, Tofail Ahmed from Bhola-1, Suranjit Sengupta from Sunamganj-2, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim from Gopalganj-2, Motia Chowdhury from Sherpur-2, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir from Chandpur-1, and Kazi Zafarullah from Faridpur-5.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil will stand for Naogaon-5 and Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader from Noakhali-5 constituencies.