Politics
Despite HC order Sylhet-2 independent candidate yet to get symbol
Despite a High Court (HC) order to allocate an electoral symbol to an independent candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency on Sunday, no symbol is yet to be provided to him ahead of the upcoming parliamentary national elections scheduled for January 7.
Muhibur Rahman, who is also Biswanath municipality mayor, staged a sit-in programme at the district returning officer's office demanding allocation of symbol on Thursday. His supporters accompanied him during the protest.
Govt declares Jan 7 as general holiday for 12th national election
At this moment, staff of the returning officer’s office and the demonstrating people got locked into an altercation there.
Later, they left the office upon intervention of the police.
Earlier, the independent candidate alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has been doing this to keep him away from the election to facilitate the Awami League-nominated candidate Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury.
BNP-Jamaat ask people not to vote as they believe in elections without voting: Law Minister
He said they would continue the legal battle until he gets back the symbol as he is yet to conduct a campaign without it.
However, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and also Returning Officer Sheikh Russell expressed reluctance to make any comment on this issue.
Without stepping down from the mayoral post, the candidate submitted his nomination paper to the returning officer.
4 supporters of Mashrafe fined for breaching electoral code
But, his nomination was declared invalid by the returning officer during a scrutiny. The EC also cancelled it during an appeal hearing later.
Finally, the candidate moved to the HC while the court ordered the authorities concerned to allow him to join the election race with a symbol.
Govt declares Jan 7 as general holiday for 12th national election
The government has declared January 7 as a general holiday on occasion of the 12th Parliamentary Election.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification signed by deputy secretary of the ministry Sonia Hasan on Thursday.
Cumilla presiding officer show-caused for campaigning in favour of AL candidate Mustafa Kamal
According to the notification, the decision was made to facilitate the exercise of voting rights for people working in all government, semi-government, autonomous and private organizations and teachers of government and private educational institutions.
Earlier on Dec 24, the Election Commission (EC) requested the Public Administration Ministry to declare January 7 as a general holiday.
On November 15, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal announced that the 12th parliamentary election of the country will be held on January 7.
Rajshahi-4 constituency: Attack by AL-backed candidate’s supporters leaves 7 opponents hurt
According to the constitution, the tenure of the current government will end on January 29, 2024.
BNP-Jamaat ask people not to vote as they believe in elections without voting: Law Minister
The BNP-Jamaat has asked people not to vote because they believe in being elected without voting, said Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday.He was addressing his election rally as the chief guest at Chanpur playground in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria district in the afternoon.
Anisul, the Awami League-nominated candidate for Brahmanbaria-4 (Kasba-Akhaura) constituency, said that according to the constitution, the people of the country are the source of all power.
Cumilla presiding officer show-caused for campaigning in favour of AL candidate Mustafa Kamal
“People will elect their representatives through democratic voting rights. But a mischievous quarter is trying to stop them from going to the polling centres by boycotting the election. The BNP used to hold elections without voters during their time,” he said.On January 7, the people of the country will go to the polling centres and show the whole world how much they love the country, he said.
Upazila Awami League President Mohammad Ali Chowdhury, General Secretary Takjil Khalifa Kajal, party leaders, and activists, among others, were present.
Election campaign: 11 Laxmipur AL leaders relieved of posts
4 supporters of Mashrafe fined for breaching electoral code
A mobile court has fined four supporters of Narail-2 constituency Awami League candidate Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for violating the election code of conduct during the campaign.
Md Anisur Rahman, executive magistrate of the mobile court, slapped the penalty on Wednesday night.
11 BNP leaders-activists arrested in Narail
He said that they conducted a drive in Hatir Bagan area of the town on Wednesday night as part of a regular duty in the two constituencies of Narail.
2 dead in motorbike-three wheeler collision in Narail
Four supporters of Mashrafe were fined Tk5,200 for putting stickers of his electoral symbol “boat” on the vehicles, Anisur said.
He said he had also warned them against repeating the offence.
Narail farmer beaten to death in barbaric attack
BNP leaders Altaf, Hafizuddin jailed in sabotage case
A court in Dhaka today sentenced former home minister and BNP’s Vice Chairman, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Major (retd) Md Hafizuddin Ahmed and Major (retd) Md Hanif to jail for 21 months in a sabotage case filed with Gulshan police station in Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury pronounced the judgement, BNP lawyer Zia Uddin Zia confirmed.
They were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment under one section of the case. In another section, they were jailed to one and a half years imprisonment and fined Tk 5,000 each; in default, they will have to suffer one month more in jail.
Read: BNP urges people to foil ‘farcical game’ in the name of polls
The court also sentenced five activists of BNP to three and a half years in jail in the same case.
They are: MA Awal Khan, Md Russel, Moinul Islam, Babul Hossain alias Babul, and Alamgir Hossain alias Raju.
Meanwhile, 11 accused were acquitted as the charges against them were not proved.
According to the case statement, the accused held an illegal rally in Mohakhali, Dhaka and obstructed police from conducting their duties on June 4, 2011.
Read: AL resorting to threats to drive up turnout after failing to get desired response for Jan 7 election: Rizvi
They also attacked policemen, vandalised and torched the vehicles.
Later on April 29, 2014, Kamrul Hasan Talukdar, sub-inspector (SI) of Gulshan police station, submitted chargesheet in the case.
The court on April 25, 2022, framed charges, initiating the trial officially.
BNP extends mass contact, leaflet distribution by 2 days till Saturday
BNP on Thursday extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme for another two days until Saturday to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call for boycotting the Januray-7 election and not cooperating with the Awami League government.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing.
"Our mass contact and leaflet distribution programme is going on across the country. This program will continue across the country on Friday and Saturday,” he said.
Read: Govt’s “desperate" bid to take voters to polling stations gets no response: Rizvi
The BNP leader called upon the leaders and activists at all levels of their party and the like-minded parties and alliances to observe the programme for two more days for mobilising public support for boycotting the upcoming one-sided election, ongoing non-cooperation movement and the one-point demand for holding the polls under a non-party neutral administration.
BNP’s like-minded parties also announced a similar programme.
Earlier on December 24, the party announced a three-day mass contact and leaflet distribution programme beginning from Tuesday. The programme was supposed to end today (Thursday).
BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.
Read: People have no interest in voting in a ‘meaningless’ election: BNP
BNP’s movement lost its momentum following clashes with law enforcers centring the party’s grand rally on October 28 as many senior leaders, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.
However, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days in four spells since October 29.
Finally, the opposition party came up with the call for a non-cooperation movement on December 20.
BNP urges people to foil ‘farcical game’ in the name of polls
BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Thursday urged the country’s people to come forward in unison to foil the Awami League government’s efforts to stage a ‘game’ in the name of election.
"We appeal to the people of the country to boycott the upcoming polls since you have no scope to choose the candidates of your choice,” he said while distributing leaflets in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
BNP announces 3-day mass contact, leaflet distribution programme from Tuesday
The BNP senior leader said the election slated for January 7 is just an evil attempt to extend the term of an illegal, corrupt, and looter regime. “You (people) say 'no' to them (govt). You stand against them and foil this game in the name of election.”
Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said the government which snatched people’s all rights is staging a farcical game in the name of a dummy election and democracy.
“There is no opportunity for the country’s people to express their opinions in this election boycotting by the opposition parties. There is no importance and scope to cast votes in the election which lacks any anti-government candidate. That is why the people of the country will boycott this election to protect their democratic rights,” he observed.
People have no interest in voting in a ‘meaningless’ election: BNP
The BNP leader once again urged the country’s people to join the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and win the fight for free, fair, and impartial elections under a non-partisan government.
"Let's win the struggle for democracy and establish a Bangladesh that will be our Bangladesh, the Bangladesh of the people," he said.
On the last day of their party’s three-day mass contact programme, Nazrul along with some leaders and workers of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal distributed leaflets, containing the BNP’s call for boycotting the election, among the pedestrians in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Don't be part of dummy election meant to extend AL's illegal power: BNP
Leaders of BNP and like-minded opposition parties also distributed leaflets in different areas of the city to drum up public support for boycotting the unilateral national election.
Asked about his reaction to Awami League’s election manifesto, Nazrul said the ruling party announced its manifesto on Wednesday as part of a game in the name of the election. “There are many tall talks in it. But yesterday (Wednesday) Dhaka city topped the list of cities across the world with the worst air quality. This is how they have become the role model of development.
Sajeeb Wazed questions US stance on BNP's involvement in violence before polls
Referring to two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student front) activists arrested with a “huge cache of explosives” in Dhaka, Sajeeb Wazed raised a question over the stance of the US embassy in Dhaka, and asked when the US State Department will “sanction BNP”.
Md Nayon and Md Alamin, both Chhatra Dal activists, were involved in making and supplying petrol bombs and improvised bombs and had been acting at the directives of local BNP and Jubo Dal leaders, according to media reports.
“So when is @usembassydhaka going to recommend @StateDept sanction BNP as a terrorist organization? Or are they going to be hypocrites like they usually are,” Sajeeb Wazed, known for his role in developing Bangladesh’s digital landscape and chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), tweeted from his verified X account.
Read: Sajeeb Wazed’s role in shaping technological aspects and strategies of AL’s manifesto
The tweet generated a heated discussion on social media and some netizens were seen posting news links with visuals from CCTV footages showing leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies carrying out vandalism and setting buses on fire.
As the US State Department imposed visa restrictions, the role of US came under the scanner with reports of a key Jamaat-e-Islami leader meeting a US diplomat ahead of October 28 rallies.
Jamaat has vowed to enforce Sharia law in the country.
At a recent US State Department briefing, a reporter highlighted a tragic incident in Bangladesh where arsonists attacked a Dhaka-bound express train, resulting in the death of four individuals, including a woman and her three-year-old child, and asked for the administration’s stance.
The State Department spokesperson responded that he was “not familiar with that specific incident.”
Cumilla presiding officer show-caused for campaigning in favour of AL candidate Mustafa Kamal
A presiding officer in Cumilla has been served with a show cause notice for campaigning for the Awami League-nominated candidate for Cumilla-10 constituency AHM Mustafa Kamal, in the upcoming 12th Parliamentary Election.
Mustafa Kamal is the current lawmaker from the constituency and also the finance minister of the country.
Kushtia-3: Mahbubul Alam Hanif, his cousin served show-cause notices
Senior Assistant Judge Rajib Kumar Dev, chairman of the Election Search Committee of Cumilla-10 (Sadar South, Lalmai, and Nangalkot) constituency, served the show-cause notice on Wednesday to the accused, Md Abdul Halim.
Abdul Halim is a lecturer at Lalmai Upazila Principal Abul Kalam Majumder Women's College. He was directed to appear before the Election Search Committee on December 29 and reply to the notice.
Sitakunda upazila chairman served show-cause notice for using govt vehicle during electioneering
When contacted, the accused college teacher refused to comment on the matter.
The notice said that according to information published in the media (social media) on Tuesday, Abdul Halim was seen campaigning with boat leaflets along with Kamal’s daughter and brother on Monday at Hazat Khola Bazar of Bhulin Uttar Union of Lalmai and asked people to vote for the boat symbol.
Polls Code Violation: AL Ctg-3 candidate served show-cause notice for second time
The notice also stated that Abdul Halim's actions were contrary to a free and fair election environment.
Rajshahi-4 constituency: Attack by AL-backed candidate’s supporters leaves 7 opponents hurt
At least seven supporters of an independent candidate for Rajshahi-4 seat Enamul Haque were injured in an attack allegedly by the supporters of Awami League (AL)-nominated candidate Abul Kalam Azad in Sreepur union of Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi district on Wednesday.
The attack was made within just two days after both the feuding groups gave undertaking to the district’s returning officer and superintendent of police that they would not get locked into clash centring the national parliamentary elections scheduled to be held January 7 next.
Ctg-11 independent candidate’s election camp set on fire
Three of the injured identified as current parliament member and also independent candidate Enamul’s former personal secretary Jillur Rahman, Sreepur union AL’s organising secretary Bajlur Rahman and party activist Alamgir Hossain were admitted to Upazila Health Complex while the rest were released after giving first aid.
Jillur said that some 20 to 25 supporters of the AL-backed candidate riding on motorbikes came to Sreepur Government Primary School on Wednesday noon and attacked them with sticks, rods and other locally-made weapons when they were conducting campaigns by distributing leaflets among voters.
Don't be part of dummy election meant to extend AL's illegal power: BNP
The attack left seven supporters including him injured, Jillur said.
Moreover, three mobile phone sets were snatched away from them when they were trying to call police, according to him.
He alleged that police came to the spot around one hour after the incident though it takes five minutes to reach there from the police station.
Govt’s “desperate" bid to take voters to polling stations gets no response: Rizvi
Confirming the incident, Bagmara police station’s inspector (investigation) Soheb Khan said they sent force to the spot after being informed.
Some people were injured in the attack by the AL supporters, he said, adding that legal actions will be taken once complaints are lodged.
Earlier on Tuesday, three supporters of the independent candidate were injured in an attack by the ruling party’s fellows.