Election
Want BNP to straighten up after election: Foreign Minister
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said BNP needs to straighten up now that the election is over.
"After the election, the BNP's posture crumbled. We want them to overcome their disappointment and stand straight," he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after unveiling the covers of journalist and researcher Mizanur Rahman's 'Badaljata Bangladesh' and poet Rebecca Shilpi's fourth poetry book 'Bimurto' on the Suhrawardy Udyan premises of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela on Tuesday.
Publisher of the two books Shafique Rahman, Chairman of Nongor Prokashoni, President of River Safety Organization Nongor Sumon Shams, former Vice-President of Bangladesh Chhatra League HM Mehedi Hasan and other guests were present on the occasion.
Read more: BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: Quader
"We hope that BNP will engage in distributing leaflets and follow democratic procedures to overcome their disappointment. They will not succeed in manipulating public opinion with petrol bombs,” said the minister.
Before the book unveiling, Dr. Hasan remarked, "The Ekushey Boi Mela has become a festival of life, transforming into a meeting place for Bengalis. Young and old, children and adolescents, youth, adults, and the elderly all come to the fair to take a breath, turn the pages of books, and buy books. Our goal is to build a humane, socially responsible state, and we must work united towards that goal."
Describing the transformation of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Foreign Minister mentioned the significant differences between Bangladesh 15 years ago and today.
He also emphasized that there would be many differences in Bangladesh in the next 10 years. “From the Padma Bridge to the air conditioned metro rail, development through the riverine country and the tunnel under the river, under the leadership of Bangabandhu's Daughter, we have progressed relentlessly at an unstoppable pace.”
Read more: Usurping power AL govt showing arrogance: Rizvi
Naogaon-2 election: Voting underway amid tight security
Voting in the election to Naogaon-2 constituency (Patnitala and Dhamoirhat upazilas), which was postponed following the death of independent candidate Aminul Haque, began amid strict security measures on Monday (February 12, 2024) morning.
The balloting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break.
The Election Commission suspended the election due to the death of the independent candidate on December 29, eight-day ahead the 12th national election held on January 7 this year.
Visiting several polling stations, the UNB correspondent found a huge presence of voters.
Read more: BNP's program is nothing but restarting an old car: Foreign Minister
Abdullah Al Mamun, presiding officer of Puiya Government Primary School centre, said that they have taken all preparations to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment.
With the cooperation of the members of the law enforcement agencies, they will be able to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment, he hoped.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Golam Mowla said all security measures have been taken so that election can be held in free, fair and neutral manner.
There are 16 police and Ansar members in important centers each and 15 members in other centers each, he said, adding that on an average there is one police mobile team for every four centers along with a striking team and reserve team.
Read more: 15 BNP men died in police custody 'for lack of care or torture': Rizvi
Executive Magistrates and Judicial Magistrates are performing duty along with patrolling by members of the Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh, he said.
A total of four candidates including one from the ruling Awami League and one from Jatiya Party are contesting the polls.
ECP announces the complete results of Pakistan's General Election 2024
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday announced the complete results of the country's General Election 2024 held on Feb. 8.
According to the election results announced for the National Assembly (NA), or the lower house of the country's parliament, independent candidates got 101 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif got 75 seats and the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari got 54 seats.
Read: Pakistan's ex-PM Sharif says he will seek coalition government after trailing imprisoned rival Khan
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan got 17 seats, the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan got four seats, the Pakistan Muslim League got three seats, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Balochistan National Party got two seats each, while Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed), Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party Pakistan, Balochistan Awami Party, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and the National Party got one seat each.
Read: Pakistan votes for a new parliament as militant attacks surge and jailed leader's party cries foul
The ECP announced the result of 262 out of 266 seats for the NA after the country held general elections on Feb. 8 to elect a government for the next five-year term.
The election body of the country postponed voting for one seat due to the death of a candidate and withheld the result for one seat and announced partial re-voting for it.
The Jan 7 election ensured democracy and people's right to vote: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the absolute win of Awami League in the January 7 election was the victory of Bangladesh, its people, and continuation of democracy and development.
The prime minister was addressing several hundred expatriate Awami League leaders from across the globe gathered at her official residence Ganabhaban to congratulate her on her party's fourth consecutive win in the parliamentary election
Hasina, who is also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that her government has been able to ensure people's right to vote in this month's election.
“We have ensured the constitutional right of the people,” she said.
She also said that the election was highly competitive as Awami League has opened the contest to all.
Read: Don’t allow the ‘looters’ to come to power: PM Hasina tells Bangladeshi expatriates in South Africa
“We have given our electoral symbol boat to our candidates and asked others from the party to participate in the election whoever were interested,” she said.
Talking about BNP which did not participate in the election, she questioned how will they come to the election.
“In 2008 election BNP with their 20 party alliance got 30 seats only while AL alone bagged 233 seats,” she added. That election was held under a neutral caretaker government.
In this connection, she mentioned that many people thought in 2008 that BNP is equal to Awami League considering the organisational strength.
“But it was proved wrong in 2008 election,” she said.
Read: 1.49 crore Bangladeshi expatriates work in 176 countries
After that, she said, BNP never wanted election. They insread unleashed arson attacks killing people and set fire to trains to foil the elections.
“The more they (BNP) unleash the arson attack the more people will reject them. They know that they were rejected by the people,” she said.
The prime minister said that's why BNP does not want to participate in the election.
“Rather they wanted to spoil the election and looked to the illegal way to be in the power,” she said.
Also read: Expatriates send $1.65 bn in 26 days of May
Russia observes ‘external attempts’ to influence election outcome in Bangladesh
Russia has said the leadership of Bangladesh should be recognised for creating favourable conditions for the free expression of voters’ will despite external attempts to influence the election outcome.
"External attempts to influence the election’s outcome were observed, as we mentioned on November 22 and December 15, 2023," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the parliamentary elections and appointment of a new government in Bangladesh.
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Local observers and over 200 international observers, including those from Russia, have confirmed the legitimacy of the election and its adherence to generally accepted standards, she said.
Andrey Shutov, a member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, headed the Russian delegation in Bangladesh during the election.
On January 11, a new government was formed in Bangladesh, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being reappointed to the position she previously held.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin extended their congratulations to her on assuming office.
Russian PM congratulates Sheikh Hasina
The ruling Bangladesh Awami League secured 222 out of the 300 seats in the parliament, winning the majority of votes.
"We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Bangladesh on the successful outcome of the election," said Maria Zakharova. Unfortunately, she said, some opposition parties chose not to participate in the election process.
Election 2024: 21 candidates in Bagerhat lose security deposit
At least 21 candidates in Bagerhat’s four constituencies have lost their security deposit as they failed to bag required votes cast in the 12th parliamentary election held on January 7.
Nineteen candidates from different political leaders and two independent candidates are among those who lost their security deposit.
Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner and Returning officer Khalid Hossain came up with the information after analyzing the results.
Read: Election 2024: List of winners from Mymensingh division
Among them, five candidates each were from Bagerhat-1, Bagerhat-2 and Bagerhat-3 constituencies while four from Bagerhat-4 constituencies.
The candidates were: Md Kamruzzaman (5210 votes), HM Ataur Rahman Atiqui (1175 votes), Basudeb Guha (2065 votes), Manjur Hosain Shikdar (2796 votes), Mahfuzur Rahman (1775 votes), Shahidul Isalm (4174 votes), SM Azmal Hossain (1455 votes), Khan Arifur Rahman, (3163 votes), Mariam Sultana (2762 votes), Solaiman Shikdar (1907 votes), Mafizul Islam Gazi (208 votes), Manuel Sarkar (228 votes), Maniruzzaman Moni (670 votes), Sheikh Nuruzzaman Masum (338 votes), Subrata Mandal (423 votes), Jamil Hossain (5376 votes), Mohammad Badruzzaman (992 votes), Mohammad Lokman (1611 votes), Rezaul Islam Raju (636 votes), Lutfun Nahar Rikta (697 votes) and Sajon Kumar Mistri (2220 votes).
District Election Officer Sheikh Muhammad Jalal Uddin, said the candidates submitted Tk 20,000 as security deposit.
Read: Election 2024: List of winners from Rangpur division
According to the rules, those who did not get a minimum 12.5 percent of the total votes cast in the election will not get the security money back.
The voting for the 12th parliamentary election was held on January 7 amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
Election 2024: List of winners from Mymensingh division
The Awami League won a comfortable two-thirds majority for a fourth election in a row on Sunday, in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and a strong showing by independent candidates as predicted.
Ruling party candidates won in 222 seats in Sunday’s election, while independent candidates — most of them belonging to AL — won 62 seats.
Here’s the list of candidates from Mymensingh division who won in the National Election 2024:
Election 2024: List of winners from Rangpur division
The Awami League won a comfortable two-thirds majority for a fourth election in a row on Sunday (January 07, 2024), in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and a strong showing by independent candidates as predicted.
Ruling party candidates won in 222 seats in Sunday’s election, while independent candidates — most of them belonging to AL — won 62 seats.
Read more: Democracies have weaknesses, but they attain maturity only through practice: Foreign Ministry tells diplomats
Here’s the list of candidates from Rangpur division who won in the National Election 2024:
Will protest corruption and speak up for the oppressed in the Parliament: Barrister Sumon
Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon, who has been elected as an independent candidate from Habiganj-4 constituency, said that he will protest corruption and speak up for the oppressed in the Parliament, the same way he has been doing so far.
He said this after taking oath as an MP at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 11:30 am today (January 10, 2024).
Also read: Barrister Sumon crushes incumbent state minister for civil aviation and tourism
“My role will remain the same as before. Protesting against corruption, speaking up for oppressed people and realising Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla,” Barrister Sumon said.
When asked what challenges he might face, he said, “Not one or two. No one wants to work in Bangladesh. Still, if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina considers me, I will be able to do a lot of work,” he said.
Also read: Newly elected MPs are sworn in by Speaker
“You’re only an MP for five years. If I perform poorly, people will throw me out,” he said.
Barrister Sumon thinks that he has been given a responsibility by the people for five years.
Sheikh Hasina re-elected Awami League Parliamentary Party leader for 4th time in a row
Sheikh Hasina was on Wednesday elected the leader of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) for the fourth time in a row.
The election means she will be the prime minister for the fourth consecutive time after she led her Awami League party to an absolute victory in the January 7 parliamentary polls.
Eradicating arson terrorism, ushering in the era of Smart Bangladesh new govt’s priorities: Info Minister
The newly elected lawmakers of the Awami League, under the leadership of party president Hasina, held a meeting at the Jatiya Sangshad and unanimously elected her as the leader of the ALPP on Wednesday soon after the oath-taking ceremony.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader proposed the name of Hasina as the leader of the House which was seconded by Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton, sources at the meeting said.
Will join parliament after taking oath to fulfill people’s expectations: GM Quader
Besides, Awami League Presidium Member Matia Chowdhury was re-elected the deputy leader of the ALPP while Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was chosen as the Speaker of the Parliament again.
The meeting also decided to nominate Shamsul Haque Tuku as deputy speaker of the parliament again.
'Citizens rejected the call to boycott elections': Hasan Mahmud
Meanwhile, Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton will retain the post of the chief whip of 12th Parliament, the meeting decided.