politics
US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader
Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader on Tuesday said that the new US visa policy for Bangladesh will be helpful in holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.
"The United States expects free, fair and neutral elections in Bangladesh. What is said in the visa policy, all goes in favour Bangladesh and its people", Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament told reporters at the circuit house in the town before attending the bi-annual conference of Sherpur district unit of the party.
Also Read: Fair election not possible in current system: GM Quader
"We can’t expect a free, fair and impartial election under the current government. This needs to be changed. But we need consensus on the kind of change through discussion with all parties. So we (Jatiya Party) support the US visa policy," he added.
GM Quader said everyone wants free and fair elections. "We haven't received any proposal regarding the election-time government from anywhere yet. However, we are working for the welfare of the people of the country. How we will participate in the next election will be discussed later and decided," he added.
Also Read: People have no confidence in country’s electoral system: GM Quader
Central leaders, including Jatiya Party Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Member of Parliament Kazi Firoz Rashid, Presidium Member Mostafa Al Mahmud, were also present.
Later, GM Quader and Jatiya Party leaders addressed the bi-annual conference of the district Jatiya Party at Shaheed Minar premises in the Chawkbazar center of the town.
Also Read: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader
Khaleda undergoes medical tests at Evercare Hospital
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia underwent various medical examinations under close supervision of her medical board at Evercare Hospital of the city's Bashundhara area on Tuesday.
Her personal physician Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said, “Madam's treatment is going on under the supervision of her medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder.”
Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital around 1:30pm after she fell sick last night.
Read: Khaleda hospitalised as she falls ill late at night
The BNP chief left her Gulshan residence around 1:20 am and reached the hospital around 1:40 am, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said she was admitted to the hospital as per the decision of her medical board.
She last went to the same hospital on April 29 and received treatment there for five days.
The BNP chief received treatment at the hospital seven times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April, 2021.
Read: Niko graft case: Khaleda Zia files petition to cancel charge framing Khaleda, a 78-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
ince her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
On June 10 last year, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.
Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Read: Khaleda Zia returns home from hospital after 5 days
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country.
AL candidate Mahbubur wins Cox's Bazar municipal election
Awami League candidate Md Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury won the Cox's Bazar municipality election with 28,064 votes on Monday.
Cox's Bazar District Election Officer and Returning Officer SM Shahadat Hossain announced the results at Shaheed Subhas Hall of Cox's Bazar Public Library at around 9pm after counting the votes.
His nearest rival Awami League rebel candidate Md Masedul Haque Rashed got 24,699 votes.
Also read: AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election
Among other candidates, Jagdish Barua (helmet) got 4,168 votes, Josna Haque (mobile phone) got 698 votes and Md. Jahidur Rahman (hand fan) got 1,442 votes.
A total of 95,386 voters were eligible to vote in 12 wards of Cox's Bazar Municipality.
The voter turnout was recorded at 62.55%, according to the returning officer.
Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury termed the results as a victory for the people.
Also read: AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
"The ordinary voters have sincerely elected me with the boat symbol. I am grateful to the public and people from all walks of life,” he said.
Voting in the Cox’s Bazar municipality election began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break. Electronic voting machines were used at all the centres to cast votes.
Meanwhile, 15 magistrates, including three judicial magistrates, seven platoons of BGB, 12 RAB teams and 1,200 police personnel were on duty in 12 wards to ensure a fair election.
Also read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results
Attack on Faizul Karim proves again credible polls never possible under AL: BNP
Describing the attack on Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) candidate Mufti Syed Faizul Karim during the Barishal City Corporation polls as ‘cowardly’, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said it has been proved once again that credible elections are never possible under the current ‘illegal’ government.
In a statement, the BNP leader strongly denounced the incident and blamed the ruling party 'cadres' for it.
Read more: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured
“The terrorist attack on a religious leader and a mayoral candidate in broad daylight under the nose of the administration is cowardly and despicable. This barbaric attack has once again exposed that the Awami League can’t tolerate any candidate from the opposition other than their ones,” Fakhrul said.
He said the ruling party has an attitude to ensure the victory of its candidate by any means.
The BNP leader also came down hard on the Election Commission (EC) saying it cannot do anything going beyond the government’s instructions.
He said the EC has completely failed to conduct such an election held without the participation of opposition parties.
“Since a mayoral candidate is attacked by the ruling party cadres, where is the safety of ordinary voters? The opposition parties did not take part in the polls because of such an election atmosphere,” he said.
Read more: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results
"I would like to clearly say that no fair election is possible by any means under the Awami League," he observed.
Fakhrul demanded the immediate arrest of the ruling party cadres involved in the attack on Islami Andolan mayoral candidate Faizul Karim and mete out exemplary punishment to them.
lAB candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, who contested the Brishal polls with the ‘hand fan’ symbol, alleged that several of his supporters as well as he were injured in an attack by AL men at Kawnia Secondary Girls School polling station.
Also read: AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election
He said voters and his agents were forced to leave the Kawnia centre and Manik Miah centre.
Later at a press conference, IAB rejected the results of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Barishal City Corporation (BCC) elections alleging huge irregularities.
The party also announced to boycott upcoming Sylhet and Rajshahi city elections slated to be held on June 21.
Also read: AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election
Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won the Barishal City Corporation election with 87,807 votes, according to unofficial results of all the 126 centres.
Humayun Kabir, returning officer of the Barishal City Corporation election, unofficially announced the results at the district's Shilpakala Academy at around 9:45pm.
Abul Khair defeated his nearest rival, Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim (Handfan), by 53,979 votes. Mufti Faizul Karim bagged 33,828 votes.
Also read: AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
Meanwhile, Abul Khair said he will implement the promises made in the election manifesto in phases.
Among other candidates, Jatiya Party’s mayor candidate Engineer Iqbal Hossain Taposh (Plough) got 6,665 votes, independent mayor candidate (Table clock) Md Kamrul Hassan Rupon bagged 7,999 votes, Zaker Party candidate (Rose) Md Mizanur Rahman Bachhu got 2,546 votes.
A total of 142,177 voters -- among 276,297 eligible voters – casted their ballots in Barishal city polls.
Also read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results
The voter turnout in Barishal was recorded at 51.46%, according to the returning officer.
Voting in the BCC election began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break. Electronic voting machines were used at all the centres to cast votes.
Seven mayoral candidates, 119 general councillor candidates and 42 reserved councillor candidates participated in the Barishal city polls.
Also read: Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video
About 4500 members of law enforcement agencies, 10 platoons of BGB, 30 executive magistrates, and 10 judicial magistrates performed duty during the polls.
AL-backed mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque wins Khulna City polls
Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election with 1,54,825 votes, according to unofficial results.
Khulna City Corporation elections Returning Officer Md Alauddin announced the results after counting of votes ended at all 289 polling centres.
His nearest rival, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Abdul Awal got 60,064 votes, said Alauddin.
Also read: Voting in Khulna, Barishal city polls end; counting on
According to unofficial results, Jatiya Party’s Shafiqul Islam Madhu (plough) bagged 18,074 votes, Independent candidate SM Shafiqur Rahman (clock) got 17,218 and Jaker Party’s SM Sabbir Hossain (rose) got 6,096 votes.
Earlier, voting in the Khulna City Corporation (GCC) election began on Monday using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations in a peaceful manner.
The voting began around 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break.
Also read: Khulna city polls: BNP orders activists, supporters to stay away from voting
However, some minor irregularities were reported in both elections causing injuries to some people.
Out of 5,35,529 voters eligible for voting in elections across Khulna, 2,56,433 casted their ballots at 1,732 booths of 289 polling stations in Khulna City Corporation elections.
Alauddin said 45% voters cast their ballots today.
Also read: Voting underway in festive environment in Barishal, Khulna cities: EC Habib
Five candidates contested for the mayoral post in Khulna City Corporation election while 136 contested for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats. Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 were elected unopposed earlier.
Meanwhile, eleven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) carried out their duty to ensure security in the KCC election along with 8,080 members from police, Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Also read: Khulna city polls: Low voter turnout at many centres
Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video
A woman, while speaking to media, today said she was attacked by a supporter of Syed Faizul Karim, Islami Andolon Bangladesh backed mayoral candidate, during today’s Barishal City Corporation polls.
According to her statement given to the media, the woman said she was standing near a polling station as Barishal City Corporation election was underway. Right in front of her, a supporter of Islami Andolon apparently locked into an altercation with a supporter of Awami League over “clearing the place” as mayor candidate Syed Faizul Karim entered the polling centre.
Also read: Voting in Khulna, Barishal city polls end; counting on
When Syed Faizul Karim came out of the polling centre, his supporter complained to him against the AL activist. Later, Faizul Karim grabbed the AL activist and manhandled him, the woman said. Seeing this, she went on Facebook live, she added.
“When I went live, one of the supporters of Islami Andolon grabbed me and tried to snatch my phone. The man also picked up an object to hit me,” according to her statement to media.
Also read: Voting underway in festive environment in Barishal, Khulna cities: EC Habib
Seven candidates competed for the mayoral post in the Barishal city polls.
Earlier, several supporters of mayoral candidates backed by Islami Andolon Bangladesh and AL were injured in a clash over entering a polling centre in the election.
Also read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured
Jamaat got permission for rally because of US visa policy: Gayeshwar
BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was given permission to hold a rally in the capital after a decade as an effect of the US visa policy.
Speaking at a discussion, he said Jamaat could hold meetings as a political party, but some people wonder whether the Islamist party was allowed to hold the rally after a long time following an entente with the government.
Read: Khulna city polls: BNP orders activists, supporters to stay away from voting
“In fact, the government was forced to give Jamaat permission (to hold the rally) because of the US visa policy. Everyone (belonging to the ruling party) has to now check blood pressure and sugar level in the morning and afternoon as they could understand everything has an end,” the BNP leader said.
Swahidhana Oikya Parishad arranged the discussion meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 42nd death anniversary of the late President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, said the current government must step down and hand over power to a neutral government to hold the upcoming national election.
Read: No compromise on caretaker government: Fakhrul
“There’s only one way open for this government to exit safely. That is to restore the ownership of the people and their voting rights and accept the 10 points,” he said.
The BNP leader said the opposition party is unwilling to hold any talks with the government until their 10-point demands are met.
“Now it's time to say goodbye to you (govt). Why do we engage in talks now? Dialogue is what we are talking about every day, but you are not listening,” he observed.
Gayeshwar said PM Sheikh Hasina should accept BNP’s 10-point demand, including the installation of the caretaker government, for a free, fair and credible election demonstrating her prudence.
Read: People won’t get deceived thrice by joining polls under AL govt: Fakhrul
“Our demand must be accepted first. Then we can hold talks on the caretaker or polls-time government. We can overcome the current transition through mutual cooperation for a fair election... that's what we want."
Khulna city polls: BNP orders activists, supporters to stay away from voting
expelling nine leaders for trying to participate in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, defying the party’s decision, BNP has apparently directed its local leaders and activists to stay away from the polling stations.
“Anyone found breaching party orders to stay away from the city corporation polls will be expelled immediately,” warned Shafiqul Islam Tuhin, member secretary of Khulna city unit of BNP.
Read: BCC polls: 19 BNP leaders expelled for life in Barishal
The central command’s order to boycott city polls generated a mixed reaction from the grassroots level.
In addition to being party activists, supporters and leaders, they are also voters; so, prohibiting them from going to the polling stations is an attempt to halt the election process, observed many.
Read: Sylhet BNP expels 43 leaders for contesting city polls
In light of the new US visa policy to promote free and fair elections, it is important to see if such attempts to hinder the voting process come into consideration, veteran journalist and researcher Ajoy Das Gupta said.
BNP is boycotting the ongoing city corporation polls, taking place in Khulna and Barishal today.
Read: Voting underway in festive environment in Barisal, Khulna cities: EC Habib
Voting underway in festive environment in Barishal, Khulna cities: EC Habib
Voting is underway in Barisal and Khulna City Corporations in a festive atmosphere with unimaginable voter turnout, said Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan.
“We are monitoring every CC camera with CEC. The presence of voters in such a festive atmosphere since morning is beyond imagination. It has given us peace that the fair election system of the commission has reassured the voters and encouraged them to come to the polling stations,” he said while speaking to reporters after monitoring the Khulna and Barisal city elections via CCTV cameras for two and a half hours at the Agargaon polling station in the capital.
Read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured
“I have not received any kind of non-cooperation from anyone. Voters came to the centres without any hindrance. Candidates are cooperating, and no disorder was observed,” he said.
The voting in the two cities started at 8 am using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and will continue uninterrupted until 4 pm.
Read: Khulna city polls: Low voter turnout at many centres
“Voting will continue even after 4 pm if there are voters within the precincts of the polling stations,” he said.
This is the first time that CC cameras are being employed to monitor the elections of two cities from the temporary control room of the EC auditorium in Dhaka.
Read: Khulna city polls: Jatiya Party's mayor candidate says agents barred from entering polling stations
“We are receiving reports from the field level from our own monitoring teams. Our Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath has gone to Barisal, and Joint Secretary Moniruzzaman has gone to Khulna, accompanied by ten officers. The feedback I got from them is very good, fair, and free elections,” said Ahsan.
Regarding the use of EVMs for voting, he said, “Voting through electronic voting machines has been problem-free. We have not received any complaints.”