The Recording Academy will announce nominees for the 65th Grammy Awards on Tuesday with some significant additions.

The Academy earlier this year five new categories including songwriter of the year to honor music's best composer and a special song for social change award.

The non-classical songwriter category will recognize one individual who was the "most prolific" non-performing and non-producing songwriter for a body of new work. It will take a different approach than song of the year, which awards the songwriters who wrote the lyrics or melodies to one song.

This year's announcement will be made on a livestream beginning at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific at https://live.grammy.com/. Among those announcing the nominees this year will be Olivia Rodrigo, John Legend, Machine Gun Kelly and Smokey Robinson.

Possible nominees include Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles and Adele. Some other hopefuls include Lizzo and Steve Lacy, who both had two of the biggest songs this year.

The Grammy Awards will be handed out February 5 in Los Angeles.

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The new category for songwriters is a huge step forward. Last year, a rule update allowed any songwriter, producer, engineer, or featured artist on an album nominated for album of the year could ultimately earn a nomination.

The four other categories include best spoken word poetry album, alternative music performance, Americana music performance, and score soundtrack for video games, and other interactive media.

Fresh out of successfully appealing to the Election Commission for candidacy, Barrister Aminul Haque has bagged BNP’s final nod to vie for Rajshahi-1.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the BNP, declared his candidacy at a press briefing in BNP’s Gulshan office this afternoon.

Initially, Barrister Aminul was turned down by the Election Commission on charges of concealing his conviction in a case in the affidavit submitted during application.

ABOUT THE CONSTITUENCY

Rajshahi-1 constituency is comprised with Godagari Upazila, and Tanore Upazila; having a voter base of 383,254. It is one of those areas dominant with women voters.

Having 145 voting centres within the constituency, there are 192,682 female voters and 190,572 male voters who will be exercising their franchise on election day.

Barrister Aminul’s arch contestant will be Awami League leader Omar Faruque Chowdhury.

There was one other BNP leader – Ava Haque – who was kept as a backup in case of Aminul’s failure to secure candidacy. But now, she will have to withdraw from the race.

M Abdul Mannan of Islami Andolon Bangladesh and M Rafiqul Islam of Workers Party of Bangladesh will also be contesting for this seat in the elections.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

The 11th general election will be held on December 30. It was deferred once by the Election Commission upon demands from the opposition political parties.

As per the polls schedule, the deadline for filing the nomination papers was November 28. Since then, the commission has been engaged in hearing appeals of rejected candidates.

After December 9, the last date for nomination withdrawal, the commission will allot polls symbols to contestant and open the field for campaigning.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina itself will act as the supportive government during the next general election.

"BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia went to the bank of River Thames (London) after making announcement of anti-government agitation. The agitation programme of BNP now remains confined in the vanity bag of Khaleda Zia. Let her come back to the country first, then we will see," Quader said.

He came up with the remarks while addressing a reunion of former students of Basurhat Government High School in Companiganj in Noakhali.

Presided over by Companiganj upazila vice-chairman Azam Pasha Chowdhury Romel, the function was attended by Noakhali-3 lawmaker Mamunur Rashid Kiron, principal of the school Mohammad Nurul Amin and upazila Awami League president Khijir Hayat, among others.

"Being a former student of this school, I have been able to come this far. I hope you all would be able to achieve greater success than me. In spite of being a lady, our prime minister is now being lauded all across the world. Bangladesh is now being recognised as Digital Bangladesh. We have now achieved exceptional success in cricket being patronised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Quader said.

Earlier in the morning, he visited Companiganj upazila health complex and expressed discontent over the absence of doctors and nurses at the hospital. He also ordered the civil surgeon to show causes over the matter.

Rebel chairman aspirants of union parishads from the Awami League and the BNP yesterday filed for candidacies in many places along with their party-nominated candidates on the last day for nomination submission.

Besides, AL men allegedly prevented BNP-nominated candidates and AL's rebel aspirants from submitting applications before the returning officers concerned in a number of UPs.

In first phase, elections to over 700 union parishads will be held on March 22. For the first time in Bangladesh, elections to the post of chairman in UPs will be held on partisan lines.

The AL has rebel candidates in 74 UPs in Barisal, 11 UPs in Tangail, 12 UPs in Bogra, three in Mymensingh, nine in Cox's Bazar, 28 in Patuakhali and eight UPs in Noakhali.

The BNP has dissidents in 12 UPs in Bogra, four in Mymensingh and two in Cox's Bazar, report our correspondents.

In Pirojpur, AL men allegedly attacked AL rebel candidates, independent candidates, and their followers in Kalipara and Doihari UPs when they were on their way to file nomination.

In Doihari UP, AL men reportedly assaulted the brother of a BNP leader. In, Saregkathi UP, supporters of an AL rebel candidate attacked an independent aspirant.

Independent chairman aspirant in Tikikata UP under Mothbaria upazila of Pirojpur Hossain Mosharraf Saku alleged that AL men held him for three hours so that he could not file his nomination.

However, he managed to escape and submit his nomination papers.

In Satkhira, some AL rebel candidates and BNP aspirants alleged that they were obstructed from filing nominations by ruling AL men .

Local BNP leader Shahidul Islam, chairman aspirant for Sonabaria UP, alleged that he could not submit his nominations fearing attack by AL men.

Ibrahim Hossain, a BNP leader and incumbent chairman of Deyara UP, said AL men snatched the nomination documents of his wife Nazma Parveen, who wanted to run for chairman in the same UP.

Similar incidents took place in some UPs of Jhalakathi as well.

“I could not submit my candidateship paper as it was torn by my rival candidate Abdus Salam who got the nomination from the Awami League,” claimed Abdul Hamed, an AL rebel candidate in Ranapasha UP. 

In Jhalakathi, some candidates showed off their muscle power while submitting nomination papers violating electoral rules.

Siddikur Raham, chairman of Saturia UP, led a motorcade to file his nomination. Abul Kalam, chairman aspirant for Suktagor UP, went to the office of the returning officer concerned in a procession.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Zabed Ali yesterday warned that stern action would be taken against those who would try to act against the holding of a free and fair election.

He was addressing an election preparation meeting at the conference room of the deputy commissioner of Bagerhat.

EC Secretary Sirazul Islam talking to reporters at his office said the EC would take necessary steps if anyone came up with specific allegations.

With BNP apparently gearing for the mayoral elections for Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitans, its city Convener Mirza Abbas today joined the race for Dhaka south.

          - BNP’s Treasurer Abdus Salam already running for Dhaka south

          - BNP’s Asaduzzaman Ripon too matches sword for Dhaka south

Advocate Shahjahan, Advocate Mohiuddin and Advocate Salam collected the nomination for Mirza Abbas around 11:00am, Syrul Kabir Khan, BNP chairperson’s press and media wing official, told The Daily Star Online this morning.

The mayoral polls for Chittagong and two halves of Dhaka cities will be held on April 28. Last date for filing nomination for mayor and councillor aspirants is March 29.

Meanwhile, BNP international affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon also collected the nomination to run in the mayoral race in the Dhaka South City Corporation.

Advocate Jillur Rahman bought the nomination paper on behalf of Ripon from the DSCC election commission office around 3:35pm today.

Though BNP, who earlier said would rather continue their move for a fresh national election, did not make any official stand on whether it would participate in the city corporation polls, its leaders are already starting to join in the race.

Mirza Abbas, standing committee member of BNP, is running for Dhaka south against his party cohort Abdus Salam who collected his nomination March 25.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, has collected his nomination and will run for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) elections.

However, Mintoo, Abbas and Salam stand accused in several violence cases – what the police said yesterday will be taken into consideration during the city polls.

“Accused fugitives” will be brought to book if they participate in the polls, Monirul Islam, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson said yesterday.