Noakhali, Dec 10 (UNB) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said women and young voters will be the main weapons for Awami League to win the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections slated for December 30.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has established Digital Bangladesh for the advancement of young people while honoured women inserting a provision for mothers’ signatures alongside fathers for birth registration,” he said.

Quader, also the ruling party candidate from Noakhali-5 constituency, was addressing a wayside rally in front of Govt Mujib College in Basurhat in Companiganj upazila after the allocation of electoral symbols among the contestants.

He also said people are now using 14 crore phones across the country, thanks to the contribution of Sheikh Hasina.

The Awami League leader sought votes for his party to continue the development pace.

About BNP senior leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed who is contesting the polls against him from Noakhali-5 constituency, Quader said the present government unleashed so much development in his area which Modudu could not do in 22 years.
 

Narsingdi, Dec 10 (UNB) – The BNP is participating in the December 30 election as part of its movement against the incumbent government, the party’s standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said Monday.

The Oikyafront candidate for Narsingdi-2 constituency made the comment after collecting his electoral symbol.

Oikyafront was formed in October with BNP as one of the key members. The BNP shared 58 seats with its partners from Oikyafront and 20-party alliance.

“Our (BNP’s) election manifesto will reflect (party chief) Khaleda Zia’s Vision-2030,” he told the media.

Altogether 33 aspirants for five constituencies received symbols for the 11th national election. Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Sayeda Farhana Kawnine distributed the symbols until Monday noon at her office.

Dhaka, Dec 10 (UNB) - BNP contestant from Munshiganj-1 constituency Shah Moazzem Hossain on Monday demanded that the Election Commission ensure his security and that of his supporters in his electoral area.

He made the demand in a letter submitted to Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

In his letter, Shah Moazzem, BNP vice-chairman, claimed that around 15-20 miscreants equipped with local weapons and sticks swooped on him and his followers at Kuchiamora in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj on Saturday afternoon. "They opened fire on us in order to kill me. My supporters sustained severe injuries when they tried to prevent them (miscreants)," he said.

Expressing his concern over his security as well as that of the people of his electoral area and terming the attack a big barrier to ensuring a level-playing field, the BNP leader urged the EC to take steps in this regard as per the law.

After submitting the letter, Shah Moazzem told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban that there is no equal field for all candidates in his constituency. "I see no level-playing field."

He alleged that police did not come forward to protect them during Saturday's attack.

Meanwhile, BNP candidate from Dhaka-2 Irfan Ibne Aman on Monday demanded withdrawal of the officer-in-charge of Kamrangirchar Police Station alleging that he got engaged in campaign for the candidate of a certain party.

Irfan, son of Amanullah Aman, submitted a letter to the Election Commission to this end.

Dhaka, Dec 10 (UNB) – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday dismissed the ruling party’s allegation involving their party with Pakistan High Commission and ISI, saying it is a false propaganda ahead of the national election.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also warned of taking legal action if the ruling party leaders do not withdraw such remarks.

“The government is carrying out a serious propaganda against BNP in a planned way. It’s also spreading falsehood through social and print media spending public money. The last version of the government’s falsehood is BNP’s meeting with Pakistan High Commission and Tarique Rahman’s meeting with ISI,” Fakhrul said.

He said Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader and joint general secretary Abdur Rahman made such a ‘false allegation’. “We don’t expect such irresponsible comment from Awami League general secretary. We strongly condemn their remarks.”

On Sunday, Awami League joint general secretary Abdur Rahman alleged that BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman had a meeting with Pakistani intelligence agency ISI in London while Fakhrul had one at Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka recently.

Reacting to it, Fakhrul said, “I can unequivocally say no such meeting was held with us. The ruling party has carried out the false campaign only to belittle BNP.”

Fakhrul said the government arrested some BNP-backed social media activists as it wants to snatch people’s right to expression.

He criticised the government for its move to restrict the access to 58 websites, including news portals.” They did it as part of their move to establish their control over the media.”

The BNP leader also alleged that false campaign are being carried out against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, acting chairman Tarique Rahman and other opposition leaders by opening over 300 Facebook accounts.

Fakhrul said false and fake photos of BNP leaders are being posted on the Facebook to dent their image, but no case was filed against such acts. “We’ll now start filing cases against those indulge in such activities.”

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, vice chairmen Abdul Awal Mintoo, AZM Zahid Hossain and chairperson’s adviser Ataur Rahman Dali were, among others, present.

Dhaka, Dec 10 (UNB)- The High Court on Monday stayed the Election Commission’s decision declaring invalid BNP leaders Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Ruhul QuddusTalukder Dulu, clearing the way for them to contest the 11th parliamentary election.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Rajik Al Jalil passed the order.

It also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why rejection of their candidature by the EC should not be declared illegal. 

Their lawyers said that as the effectiveness of their conviction has been stayed, they would be allowed to contest the election.

Earlier, the EC rejected the appeals by BNP's Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku from Sirajganj 2 and Ruhul KuddusTalukdarDulu from Natore-2 and stayed the decision of the  returning officers.

Meanwhile, the court upheld an EC decision which rejected the appeal of BNP leader Abdul Wadud Bhuiya from Khagrachhari-1.

The BNP leaders filed petitions on Sunday against the decision of the Election Commission.

Later, the HC completed the hearing and kept it pending to pass an order today.