Election
National election will be violence-free, Home Minister tells US team
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday told the visiting US pre-election monitoring team that the upcoming national election in Bangladesh will be free from violence.
“ I don’t think that there will be any problem. We’ve told them that there were instances of violence in the 80s and 90s, the current situation in the country is different. We unquestionably told them that elections will be conducted in accordance with the constitution,” he added.
The US pre-election monitoring team wanted to know what would happen if a candidate feels insecure or if a party complains about obstruction during the election, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the team held at the Secretariat on Wednesday .
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“They asked whether security could be provided to election candidates and whether opposition parties would be able to campaign properly if they participate in the polls. We have mentioned that the returning officers hold significant authority during the election. The election in a specific area will be conducted under their leadership. We thoroughly discussed this matter with them, including the power of the presiding officers,” he said.
In summary, they expressed their expectation for a successful election in Bangladesh, said the minister adding that they inquired about our plans if a candidate or a party feels insecure or faces obstacles in their electoral process.
US mission’s focus on free, fair, participatory polls: CEC
The minister said that they told the visiting team that Bangladesh is currently ‘free’ from violence and said, “We conveyed that the police, BGB, Coast Guard, and Ansar work to ensure violence-free elections. We told them that they have extensive experience in overseeing elections. The Election Commission has successfully conducted 5,300 elections, with security forces operating under its command during the electoral process. The well-trained police force understands how to manage elections, and incidents of violence are now rare in our country.”
“We said that, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, we have transformed Bangladesh into a country free from violence and terrorism. The rule of law has been established, and the Prime Minister is committed to ensuring free and fair elections. Transparent ballot boxes and voter lists with pictures have been introduced to eliminate corruption. Consequently, there is no longer any reason for concern about corruption in our electoral process,” he added.
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No effort to be spared in holding free, fair and peaceful election: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday said the Election Commission (EC) will spare no efforts to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election with the participation of the people in a festive atmosphere.
The CEC was speaking at a meeting with the EC's field level officials at the city's Agargaon Election Bhaban this morning.
The meeting was held with 64 district and 10 regional election officials.
Read: EC will see whether election is legally correct: CEC
At the meeting, the Chief Election Commissioner wanted to know the experiences of the field level officials.
“I would like to know how successful the election preparations have been, whether there are any deficiencies,” he said.
"There was a view exchange meeting with the officials of 64 districts and 10 regional election offices regarding the national election. It was a preliminary meeting about the very basic matters like- instructions and queries regarding the voter list, polling station preparations, etc," said Ashok Kumar Debnath, additional secretary of the election commission.
Read: ‘Want to take up challenge of holding a credible election’: CEC
Ashok Kumar said that there was no discussion about the schedule announcement in the meeting, rather it addressed the relevant issues of different regions and the possible difficulties they might face during the polls.
“The field environment is still good and the EC officials mainly sought law enforcement agencies' cooperation,” he added.
Read: All parties never participate in elections: EC Alamgir
“We have training with DC, SPs. Necessary instructions will be given at that time,” the EC secretary informed.
EC will see whether election is legally correct: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the Election Commission would not be bothered about the legitimacy of the election, but it would be concerned over whether the process is legally correct.
“If one percent of the votes is cast and 99 percent are not cast, that is legally valid. In that case the issue of legitimacy may be different. The question of legitimacy may arise, but the question of legality will not arise," he said.
The CEC made the remarks at a workshop on “Unfettered Voting Rights: Role of Candidates and Polling Agents” organised by the Election Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
Also read: ‘Want to take up challenge of holding a credible election’: CEC
He said they will not be concerned over legitimacy. "Political parties will fight over it (the legitimacy of the election). The Election Commission will not fight for it. We will see whether the vote is free, impartial and peaceful," he said.
Noting that the EC's responsibility is to ensure if the election is effectively contested, Habibul Awal said he is a bit confused about the meaning of 'inclusive' election and 'participatory' election.
"Participatory means as I understand it if a large number of voters turn up and vote. We will not bother about who come or not. If the genuine turnout is 70 percent and then it is contested, we will only have a little refereeing role," he added.
Also read: CEC replies to EU letter seeking cooperation in organising elections
He said it is not the EC's responsibility to bring someone to the election. "It is not our responsibility to bring someone. Yet we too have invited (BNP and other parties) many times out of our moral position.... What more can we do?"
About the arrest of polling agents ahead of the election, the CEC said the EC will request the government time and again not to arrest them during the election.
"We will repeatedly inform the government that if they have to be arrested, do it six months before the election or it has to be done after the election. Election should not be questioned," he said.
Former election commissioners Md Shah Nawaz and Kabita Khanam, former Vice-Chancellor of National University Prof Dr Harun-Or-Rashid, Dhaka University's Mass Communication and Journalism professors Robaet Ferdous and SM Shameem Reza, journalists Nayeemul Islam Khan and Syed Ishtiaque Reza, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Besides, election commissioners, current and former EC officials were present in the workshop.
Also read: Powers of presiding officers have been enhanced through law to ensure that elections are fair: CEC
‘Want to take up challenge of holding a credible election’: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Sunday said they want to take up the challenge of holding the next national election in a free and neutral manner despite the trust deficit prevailing among the public regarding elections.
“There is a perception in the public sphere. There is no trust in us and in the government. Elections are not held in an impartial manner (people think). We want to take up this challenge that the next election will be free and fair and peaceful as well as transparent,” he said.
The CEC was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day training workshop arranged for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) and Upazila/Thana Election Officers ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections.
Also read: CEC replies to EU letter seeking cooperation in organising elections
Some 50 UNOs and 50 election officers participated in the workshop at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in the city’s Agargaon area.
Habibul Awal said they would ensure transparency in the election through their monitoring and media surveillance.
He asked the participant officers to work so that there would be no trust crisis regarding the next election.
“Those of us who will conduct the election --starting from the election officer to you-- will have to take the responsibility properly as per the RPO,” he said.
Also read: Powers of presiding officers have been enhanced through law to ensure that elections are fair: CEC
Noting that the magnitude of complaints or controversy regarding the next election is excessive, he said, “The pressure (liability) of 2014 and 2018 (elections) has fallen on us. So, we are working tirelessly.”
The CEC asked the officers to perform their duty properly during the elections. “We, from the Election Commission, will also strictly monitor,” he said.
He asked them to keep in mind that there might be various arguments and debates about the election as in the past: “It happened in the past as well. If we look at the history of the 50, 60 and 70 years, it had happened in some cases of the elections held during the British era……But the magnitude was lower to some extent.”
Also read: Dialogue among political parties needed to resolve crisis: CEC tells US Ambassador
Habibul Awal said there is a word called ‘credible,’ which remains in the laws of all countries. The international community also suggests that elections must be credible. “It would be credible only when we can ensure transparency through our performance,” he said.
Talking about propaganda, the CEC said the EC will strictly curb media propaganda regarding the parliamentary elections.
He said now a lot of propagandas is propagated through the media, which is called misinformation or disinformation. “We will strictly resist these things so that the elections are not affected negatively,” he added.
No way to return to caretaker government, PM Hasina in VoA interview
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out a return to the repealed caretaker government system as the constitution was amended in line with a higher court verdict.
“People have the sole right to vote. Whoever is elected by the people will form the government. There is no way to go back to it (caretaker government system),” she said in an interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA) aired on Saturday.
The prime minister, now on a visit to the US, responded to a number of questions on US Visa sanction, human rights, Khaleda’s treatment abroad, caretaker government, the constitution and other issues.
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When asked about the possibility of taking initiative for amending the constitution and forming a caretaker government or discussion with the opposition alliance, she said, “Election is people’s right. When an emergency was declared in 2007, the High Court delivered a verdict that an unelected government would never come to power. Power will be handed over to an elected government…. according to the verdict of the High Court. The constitution was amended after the verdict.”
“Now, how can we annul the verdict of the High Court? Or amend the constitution? And why will we do that? We had a lot of bitter experiences. In the history of our country, we’ve seen martial law, military dictatorship, and farcical election under them, or under caretaker government.”
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Mentioning that the BNP was once against the caretaker government Hasina said, “When we protested against the BNP’s vote rigging then BNP leader (Khaleda Zia) said that no one is neutral other than children and the insane. They said this, they were against this.”
“The constitution was amended based on the verdict of the High Court. They used to protest against it, and now that they are demanding the same thing, there is no guarantee of what they will do in the future,” she said.
Moreover, the caretaker government system was abolished because of BNP, said Hasina adding that they wanted to form a government of their choice, raising the judge’s age for that, making fake voter lists, and committing a lot of terrible crimes. But none of it worked because people did not accept it.
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About the 2008 election, the PM said, “The country witnessed elections under a caretaker government in 2008. They committed a lot of dreadful crimes during their tenure from 2001-2006, and an emergency situation was declared and the caretaker government took over power. They did not hold any elections for two years and filed false cases against us,” she said.
In the 2008 election, the BNP-led 20-party alliance got only 29 seats in parliament and got another one in the re-election, said the prime minister .” So, this is their reality even under a caretaker government. That is why they boycotted the 2014 election and resorted to arson…they burnt over 3000 people to death. They carried out mayhem and arson attacks in 500 vote centres and schools. They boycotted the election.”
CEC replies to EU letter seeking cooperation in organising elections
“Now that they are suddenly demanding a caretaker government, why? And the question is who is their leader? Who (the people) will vote for? People want to see leadership…. They have no good leader to lead the country,” she continued.
“Bangladesh is in a stable condition now….. after the 2008 national election several efforts were made to make the country unstable. Bangladesh has overcome those and now has achieved the status of a developing country. We need an elected government to make this effective,” she added.
Our aim is to organise fair elections: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Friday reiterated his government's determination to hold fair elections.
"It is not a matter of us to see who came to power or left, our goal is to organise fair elections," the minister made these remarks while talking to journalists after inaugurating the country's first-ever premium water park in Munshiganj's Gazaria on Friday.
"We are always striving to arrange a peaceful election. The Election Commission is providing all kinds of support in this regard," he said.
All parties never participate in elections: EC Alamgir
Those who think that there will not be free, fair and participatory elections, their ideas will be proved false soon, added the minister.
Mentioning reshuffling in law and order forces is an ongoing process, he said, it happens every month, every year.
Schedule of 12th parliamentary election likely in November, says EC Anisur
There is no issue of reshuffling based on the election, said the home minister.
British Deputy High Commissioner Matt Cannell, Lawmaker from Munshiganj-3 Constituency Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Deputy Commissioner Md Abu Jafar Ripon, and Superintendent of Police Md Aslam Khan were also present.
All parties never participate in elections: EC Alamgir
All political parties never participate in elections because political parties have to probe their ability to participate in the elections , Election Commissioner Mohammad Alamgir said today.
“We have 44 political parties. All of them will not participate and it did not happen in the past," the election commissioner said while talking to journalists at the Election Commission building.
Also read: Foreign observers are welcome during Bangladesh's upcoming elections: Momen tells Swiss envoy
Regarding BNP’s participation in the election, he said, the Election Commission will not take any special initiative in this regard.
“Election Commission will abide by the Constitution, we do not have the authority to do anything outside the Constitution. The Election Commission will not go beyond the Constitution,” he added.
Also read: Hasan Mahmud warns BNP: Election boycott will have 'dire' consequences
"We have vowed to hold elections within 90 days before the end of the term of Parliament. Our work is to register the voters, register the parties and conduct the elections on time," EC Alamgir said.
Also read: Names of 68 local election observer agencies released by EC
Schedule of 12th parliamentary election likely in November, says EC Anisur
Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman on Wednesday said the schedule of the 12th parliamentary election may be announced in November.
Ballot papers will be sent to the polling stations on the morning of the election day except those in the remote areas, he said.
Names of 68 local election observer agencies released by EC
He said these while talking to reporters at the Election Commission building at Agargaon in the capital.
“To arrange voting in the last week of December or the first week of January, the schedule will have to be announced in November. Preparations should be made to announce the schedule with at least 40 to 45 days in hand. In that case, there is no possibility of announcement of schedule in December,” he said.
No CCTV cameras in 12th national election
Names of 68 local election observer agencies released by EC
The Election Commission (EC) has released a preliminary list of names of 68 local election observer agencies ahead of the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections.
If anyone has any claim, objection or complaint against these agencies, they have been asked to inform the EC within 15 days.
If there are no serious allegations against any of these agencies, they will get final registration. If complaints are filed against any of them, the commission will hear them and make a final decision.
Read: Public Service Commission was plagued by corruption, depriving meritorious candidates during BNP-Jamaat govt: Sajeeb Wazed
In this process, the observer agencies that will get registration will be able to monitor the upcoming elections.
This information was given in a public notice signed by Assistant Director (Public Relations) of Bangladesh Election Commission Md. Asadul Haque on Tuesday.
Earlier in 2018, the EC had registered 118 observer agencies. Those agencies’ five-year term ended on July 11. This time, 199 applications were submitted to the Election Commission within the stipulated time and 11 more applications were submitted to the EC after the stipulated time.
The commission has released a preliminary list of 68 observer agencies for the upcoming elections. At the end of the complaint hearing process, the number is likely to drop further when the final registration is issued.
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EC sources said the system of registration of local observer agencies was introduced in 2008 before the 9th parliamentary election. The EC had registered 138 agencies that year.
EC holds hearing against two new political parties
The Election Commission (EC) has held a hearing against two new political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) and Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP).
The hearing was held at Agargaon Nirbachon Bhaban on Monday.
Representatives of the two political parties BNM and BSP and the complainants presented their arguments.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal and other commissioners were present at the hearing.
After the hearing, the matter of complaint is likely to be settled and a final decision on registration may be taken soon, EC sources said.