EC
Preventing propaganda: CEC, Facebook delegation to hold meeting on Aug 3
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will hold a meeting with a Facebook delegation on Thursday (August 3, 2023), on preventing propaganda on social media.
The meeting will be held at Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon at 11 am tomorrow.
Read: Dialogue among political parties needed to resolve crisis: CEC tells US Ambassador
When contacted, Election Commission (EC) Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said, the Facebook delegation sought time for the meeting.
Asked about the reason behind the meeting, he said, “The national election is approaching. With that in mind, there can be a discussion on how to prevent propaganda on social media.”
Read: US to send pre-election assessment and monitoring team in early Oct: Peter Haas
Three officials from Facebook's Singapore office will meet the CEC. The delegation will be led by head of public policy for Bangladesh at Facebook's parent company Meta, Ruzan Sarwar, the EC official said.
Audit report to EC: Awami League earned Tk 2.85 crore in 2022
Awami League's income last year decreased compared to that of 2021, according to the party's annual financial report for 2022.
Awami League on Monday submitted its annual audit report to the Election Commission.
As per the statement, the party's total income was around Tk 10.71 crore while expenditure amounted to TK 7.87 crore in 2022.
The party’s income in 2021 was Tk 21.23 crore, which was Tk 10.33 crore in 2020.
Awami League today showed its total funds at Tk 73.35 crore so far, while it earned Tk 2.85 crore in 2022.
The main sources of the income were the sale of nomination forms, fees and donations from party members while the main sources of expenditure were salaries and bonuses for employees, the arrangement of seminars, and utility bills.
Awami League candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat wins Dhaka-17 by-polls
The Election Commission recently sent letters to registered political parties, asking them to submit their annual audit reports.
According to the Representation of the People Order, political parties must submit their audit reports by July 31 for the previous year.
Ground for grand rally of Awami League's associate organisations is being ready
If a party does not submit their annual return for three consecutive years, the Election Commission may cancel its registration, it also said.
Awami League’s deputy office secretary Biplob Barua and the election committee of the party submitted the audit report to the EC for the year 2022.
Won’t join any election again under Awami League govt: Hero Alam
BNP submits audit report to EC showing 2.03 cr in deposit
BNP on Sunday submitted its annual financial statement to the Election Commission (EC) for the 2022 calendar year, showing a fund of Tk 2,03,70,829 crore in reserve.
A BNP delegation, led by its Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, handed over the financial report to Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city.
The delegation also included party chairperson’s adviser Abul Khair Bhuiyan, international affairs secretary Nasiruddin Awsim, Dhaka district BNP president Khandakar Abu Ashfaq, assistant office secretaries Monir Hossain and Abdus Sattar Patwari.
11 cases filed against 549 BNP leaders, activists in Dhaka over Saturday’s clashes
According to the report, BNP earned Tk 5,92,04,632 and spent Tk 3,88,33,803 in 2022.The party’s both income and expenditure marked a significant increase last year. In the 2021 calendar year, the party showed Tk 84, 12, 944 as income against its expenditure of Tk 1,98,47,171.
Talking to reporters, Rizvi said they submitted the audit report to the EC as per routine work.He said the major sources of BNP’s income had the party members’ subscriptions, donations and the interests of the money deposited with banks.
BNP's ‘arson terrorism’ must be stopped: Information Minister
The BNP leader said the salaries and festival bonuses of employees of their office, political programmes, poster printing, and distribution of relief materials and financial assistance to repressed party leaders and activists were the main heads of expenditures.
AL, agencies torched vehicles to blame BNP: Fakhrul
As per the law, each registered political party is obliged to submit its financial statement of the previous calendar year by each July 31.
Hero Alom demands re-election to Dhaka-17; appeals to EC
Youtuber Ashraful Hossain Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, filed a petition to the Election Commission demanding re-election to Dhaka-17 constituency.
“There was vote rigging in the by-election and I have video footages of vote rigging. I will see the end of the election,” he said while talking to reporters after submitting his application to the Election Commission office at Agargaon.
Awami League nominated candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat won the Dhaka-17 by election bagging 28,816 votes while Hero Alom got 5,609 votes.
EC wants to form judicial inquiry committee to investigate attack on Hero Alam
Hero Alom also requested the speaker of the parliament not to administer the oath of Arafat as a lawmaker.
Replying to a question about what will he do if the appeal is rejected at the EC, Hero Alom said, “As I have the evidence of vote rigging and irregularities in by-election, I will go to the High Court and I will see the end of it.”
Won’t join any election again under Awami League govt: Hero Alam
In the petition, Hero Alom wrote, “I have contested the Dhaka-17 by-election on July 17 with Ektara election symbol. On the election day, I informed the Election Commission through e-mail that 88 of my agents were driven out of 19 polling stations within one hour of the election. There were vote rigging and irregularities.”
“At 3 pm, the cadres of ruling party Awami League physically assaulted me intentionally when I went to Banani Bidyaniketan polling station to observe the voting situation. People at home and abroad saw the attack through the electronic media. Besides, the officials concerned started vote counting after driving out my agents from different polling stations, which was contradictory to the electoral code of conduct,” he said.
Assault on Hero Alam: Foreign missions in Dhaka call for investigation, accountability of perpetrators
He also demanded cancellation of the election results, re-election to Dhaka-17 constituency and proper action against his rival candidate’s men for violating the electoral code of conduct.
EU delegation holds meeting with EC on preparations for holding nat'l election
Members of the Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from European Union (EU) had a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) today (July 11, 2023), and wanted to know about its preparations for holding the next election "fairly and peacefully."
The EC discussed its preparations with the visiting EU delegation. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, EU delegation leader Chelleri Riccardo, and EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whitely, among others, were present at the meeting.
EC proved its ‘impartiality, capability through fair polls’ in 5 recent city elections: Monitoring Forum tells EU delegates
A technical team of the mission will further discuss the relevant issues with the EC on July 18,19.
EU delegation leader Riccardo said they are in Dhaka to assess the pre-electoral conditions in order to prepare an analysis for the EU High Representative which will then decide whether or not a full election observation mission will be deployed in Bangladesh.
EU encourages ‘peaceful, fair, participatory’ election in Bangladesh: Ambassador Whiteley
The CEC did not make any comment, saying his views are aligned with that of the EU delegation leader. Riccardo did not take any questions from the media.
The EU mission will stay in Bangladesh till July 23.
The main objective of the Election Exploratory Mission is to assess the “advisability, usefulness and feasibility” of a possible EU Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election, according to the EU Mission in Dhaka.
AL prefers dictatorship, feudalism, not democracy: Fakhrul
EC proved its ‘impartiality, capability through fair polls’ in 5 recent city elections: Monitoring Forum tells EU delegates
Leaders of the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF) today (July 11, 2023) informed the Election Exploratory Mission from European Union (EU) that the Election Commission has proven its “impartiality, courage and capability” in holding free and fair polls in five city corporations held recently.
Though a major political party did not participate in the recently held elections in the five city corporations, a large part of their former councilors and local leaders took part in the elections and were elected, the EMF leaders said.
Read: US doesn't consider it interference when other countries discuss its elections: State Dept
In all the local elections that have been held recently, the EMF leaders said, they have observed that the government has not interfered or influenced the elections and has fully cooperated with the Election Commission in maintaining law and order situation.
Chairman of the Election Monitoring Forum, Professor Mohammad Abed Ali, was present during the meeting.
Advisor of the Election Monitoring Forum and former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, directors of the forum – Vice-Chancellor of DUET Prof M Habibur Rahman and BUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Jabbar Khan – were also present at the meeting.
Read: Momen welcomes foreign observers during maiden interaction with British envoy
During the meeting, the EMF leaders said that the current Election Commission has recently implemented strict monitoring of law-and-order situation with CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of voters in local elections and cancellation of elections due to irregularities in Gaibandha by-election has boosted the confidence of voters.
Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters
Voting in Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Barishal City Corporation (BCC) elections began amid much enthusiasm this morning (June 12, 2023).
Voters are seen standing in long queues at polling centres to cast their votes using electronic voting machines (EVM) in a peaceful manner.
Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break.
No untoward incident was reported till this report was filed around 8:30 am. The city corporation elections are being monitored by the Election Commission from Dhaka through CCTV cameras.
Read:EC ready to hold Khulna city polls tomorrow, BGB deployed
A good number of law enforcers have been deployed to ensure tight security measures at each polling station so that voters can exercise their right.
In the Khulna city corporation election, five candidates are vying for the mayoral post, 136 for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats.
Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 were elected unopposed earlier.
Awami League-backed candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque cast his vote at Pioneer Secondary Girls School centre on the city’s South Central Road around 9:10am.
Read:Gazipur city polls will be free and fair, says EC commissioner
After voting, the mayoral candidate said the election is being held in a free, fair manner.
“I will accept whatever result coming from the voters,” he said, hoping that people will vote for him for continuation of the development.
Eleven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are carrying out their duty to ensure security in the KCC election along with 8,080 members from police, Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
There are 5,35,528 voters in the 31 wards of Khulna city and there are 1,732 polling booths under 289 polling stations.
Read more:BNP won’t join 5 city polls in any way: Fakhrul
Of them, 161 polling stations are considered “vulnerable”.
On the other hand, seven candidates are competing for the mayoral post in the Barishal city polls.
Besides, 119 candidates are in the race for the post of general councillor and 42 candidates for the reserved councillor post.
Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah Khokon Serniabat cast his vote at the Government Barishal College on Kalibari road in the city.
Read more: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates
Jatiya Party-backed candidate Iqbal Hossain Taposh exercised his franchise at Syed Abul Manan DDF Alim Madrasah on Gorostan road, Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim at Rupatoli Housing Abdur Rob Serniabat Secondary School.
Zaker Party’s candidate Md Mizanur Rahman Bachhu also cast his vote at Chhutpur Secondary School while independent candidate Md Kamrul Ahsan Rupon at Alekanda Govt Primary School in the city.
A total of 276,298 voters will be able to cast their votes in 126 polling stations in 30 wards. Of the centres, 106 are considered “vulnerable”.
Ten platoons of the BGB remain deployed in the BCC election along with 4,500 members of the law enforcing agencies.
Read more: Jamaat's statement on resisting upcoming nat'l election came from BNP: Hasan Mahmud
EC ready to hold Khulna city polls tomorrow, BGB deployed
The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations ahead of the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, scheduled to be held tomorrow (June 12, 2023).
Distribution of all electoral materials from the city’s Divisional Mohila Krira Complex will start from 11 am today.
Returning Officer Md Alauddin said voting at all centres in the KCC election will be held using electronic voting machines (EVM).
Read: KCC Election: 161 polling stations out of 289 vulnerable
He said five candidates for mayoral post, 136 for general councillors for 31 wards and 39 for reserved seats will compete in the election.
Two councillors for wards 13 and 24 have been elected unopposed, he said, adding that voting will start at 8 am and will continue till 4pm, without any break.
Khandaker Yasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said 11 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to ensure security in the KCC election and they have been patrolling since this morning.
Each platoon comprising 20 members of the BGB will assist 11 executive magistrates in conducting mobile court, the DC said.
Read:KCC polls: Formal electioneering begins through allocation of symbols
Campaigning for the election started on May 26 with the allocation of election symbols and stopped on Saturday midnight as per order of the EC.
The whole city has been wearing a festive look during the electioneering.
A total of 5,35,528 people are supposed to exercise their franchise in the 31 wards of Khulna city and there are 1,732 polling booths under 289 polling stations.
Read more:Will ensure level playing field in KCC polls: CEC
BMTF to supply 3 crore blank smart cards to EC
Bangladesh Army-run Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Limited (BMTF) will supply 3 crore blank smart cards to Bangladesh Election Commission (EC).
Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in a meeting on Tuesday approved the proposal along with some others from different ministries.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting.
As per the proposal, the BMTF will supply the smart cards under the Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (2nd Phase) project of the Arms Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office at contract value of Tk 406.50 crore.
Under other proposals, approved by the CCGP, state marketing agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will import 12,500 metric tons (MT) of sugar and 1.10 crore litres of soybean oil for its ongoing programme to sell those in open market.
Each kg of sugar will cost Tk 82.92 while the soybean oil will cost Tk 146.10 per litre
Of these, Smart Matrix Pte., Ltd., Singapore (Local Agent: Mark Line Enterprise, Dhaka) will supply 12,500 MT of sugar at Tk 66.79 crore while the Guven Traders Ptv. Ltd., India (Local Agent: HH Enterprise, Dhaka) will supply 1.10 crore of soybean oil at Tk 148.30 crore.
Supplier Smart Matrix Pte., Ltd., Singapore was selected for sugar supply through an international bidding process while the Guven Traders Ptv. Ltd., India, was chosen by the TCB through direct procurement method without any bidding process.
The Cabinet body approved a number of proposals of the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) under the Roads Transport and Highway Division to award contracts for road constructions.
Of these, the Joint Venture of (1) SRBG, China; and (2) and BTC, Bangladesh won a contract of the Lot No- DS-7 under Package No- WP-04 of the Project "Sasec Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development" at Tk 947.74 crore.
The Joint Venture of (1) CSCEC7, China; and (2) Spectra Engineers Ltd., Bangladesh won the contract of the Lot No. DS-8 under Package No- WP-04 of the project “Sasec Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development” at Tk.1, 178.68 crore.
The RHD selected Taher Brothers Ltd. to award the contract for “Upgradation of Gouripur-Anandganj-Madhupur-Dewanganj Bazar-Hosenpur District Highway to the proper standard” at a value of Tk 131. 47 crore.
The RHD selected Joint Venture of (1) Mozahar Enterprise Pvt. Ltd., (2) National Development Engineers Ltd., and (3) Sagar Info Builders Ltd. for Package No. PW-01 of "Sherpur (Kanasakhola)-Bhimganj-Narayankhola-Rambhadrapur-Mymensingh (Rahmatpur) Road Development '' Project at Tk 149.99 crore.
The Joint Venture of (1) National Development Engineers Ltd. , and (2) Hasan Techno Builders Ltd., has been selected by the RHD for the package No. PW-02 of the "Sherpur (Kanasakhola)-Bhimganj-Narayankhola-Rambhadrapur-Mymensingh (Rahmatpur) Road Development" at a contract value of Tk 180 crore.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at a meeting approved in principle a proposal of the Directorate General of Health Services to procure Firstline TB Drugs, Medical and Surgical Supplies and Laboratory Equipment from the Essential Drugs Company Limited through Direct Purchase Method (DPM) without bidding process.
The drugs, services and equipment will be procured for the "Health and Gender Support in Cox's Bazar District (2nd Revised)"project under the United Nations Office for Project Services.
EC announces election dates for five cities
The Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced the election schedules for five city corporations –Gazipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and Sylhet.
The election to Gazipur will be held on May 25, while Khulna and Barishal on June 12 and Rashahi and Sylhet on June 21.
EC Secretary Jahangir Alam announced the election schedules at a press briefing after a meeting of the Election Commission at the Nirbachan Bhaban here in the city’s Agargaon area.
The election to the five cities will be held with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers and close circuit cameras will be installed to monitor the polls, he said.
In the cities, the balloting will be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm without any recess. The EC’s own officials will act as returning officers in the five city election, he added.
In Gazipur city, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is April 23, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on April 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 08, as per the election schedules.
The Dhaka regional election officer will act as the returning officer of the Gazipur city election.
In Khulna and Barishal cities, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is May 16, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on May 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 25.
The Khulna and Barishal regional election officers will act as the returning officers of the two city elections.
Besides, Tarakanda Upazila Parishad in Mymensingh, Cox’s Bazar municipality and Araihazar municipality in Narayanganj will also go to polls on June 12 following the same schedule announced for Khulna and Barishal city corporations.
In Rajshahi and Sylhet cities, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is May 23, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on May 25 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 1.
Also read: 'Gaibandha by-election was an isolated case': Election Commissioner
The Rajshahi and Sylhet regional election officers will act as the returning officers for the two city elections.
Also, three municipalities –-Talora in Bogura, Basail in Tangail and Gopaldi in Narayanganj – will go to election on June 21 following the same schedule announced forRajshahi and Sylhet city corporations.
As per the laws, the Election Commission has an obligation to complete election within 180 days before the expiry of the five-year tenure of any city corporation and other local bodies. But the tenure started with the first sitting of the elected representatives of any local body.
The last city election was held in Gazipur on June 26, 2018, while in Rajshahi Sylhet and Barishal on July 30 2018 and in Khulna city on May 15, 2018.