United News of Bangladesh

Voting is underway today in 87 upazilas for the third phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad Election. Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. UNB’s Cumilla correspondent reported that voting was underway in a peaceful environment in Muradnagar, Debidwar, Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas of the district since this morning. 300 BGB platoons deployed ahead of Upazila polls 3rd phase Though the turnout of voters was thin in the morning, their presence will increase with time, expected candidates and others.  No untoward incidents centring the election were reported till filing this report around 11 am.   A total of 1,196 candidates are in the electoral race for 261 posts of 87 Upazila Parishad. They include 397 chairman contenders, 456 vice chairman and 299 women (reserved) vice chairman contestants. Electronic voting machines are being used at 16 upazilas under seven districts, while traditional ballot papers are being used in the rest. A security team of 17-19 members would guard each polling station in the plain districts, while a security team of 19-21 members would protect a polling station in the Chittagong hill tracts and very remote areas. EC orders withdrawal of 4 OCs under Ctg div to ensure fair UZ polls The first phase of the polls was held in 139 upazila parishads under 59 districts on May 8, while the second phase was held in 156 upazilas under May 21.  The 4th phase of the election in over 50 upazilas will be held on June 5.

Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana on Thursday said electoral system is the key to democracy and if it is destroyed, then there will be no democracy in the country. “The EC has made concerted efforts to ensure that all elections are conducted in a manner that is free, fair, participatory, and acceptable to all parties involved,” she said. She assured that the Commission is committed to creating an environment where voters can cast their ballots without fear or violence. She made the remarks in a view exchange programme with returning, assistant returning officers, officials of law enforcement agencies, election related officials and chairman candidates ahead of third and fourth phase upazila parishad elections at Naogaon DC office auditorium. Rashida said EC has been trying to make a conducive environment for voters as they can cast their vote without any fear and in an environment free from violence. She said first and second phase of the sixth upazila parishad elections ended peacefully. “We are trying to organise forthcoming third and fourth phase polls in a more peaceful and violence-free environment.  So that general people can say that this EC  can conduct good elections.” “The EC does not work with the objective of making anyone a winner which is being reflected in the EC’s order issued for administration and law enforcement  agencies”.  EC Rashida asked the candidates to continue their campaign following the electoral code of conduct. She asked them to be careful about their speeches as hate speech is prohibited in electoral campaign. The election commissioner urged the candidates to create a voter-friendly environment where voters will feel enthusiastic  to come to the voting centres. EC Rashida assured that if any candidate submits any complaint to the commission, immediate action will be taken through investigation. She asked the election related officials to discharge their duties impartially so  that no one can make any allegation. The view exchange programme was chaired by Naongaon Deputy Commissioner Md Golam Maola where Rajshahi Divisional Additional Commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, Rajshahi Range Additional DIG Bijoy Basak, Naogaon Superintendent of police (SP) Md Rashidul Haque and Rajshahi Regional election officer Delwar Hossain and others were present.

Voting in the second phase of Upazila Parishad election began today at 8 am and it will continue until 4 pm. In Khulna district, among 138 polling centres in Terokhada, Dighalia and Fultala upazilas, police have identified 95 as important and 43 as general.  Of the total polling stations, 69 percent are considered important. Security has been beefed up at important centers.  According to the Returning Officer's office, there are 43 polling centers in Terokhada upazila, 52 in Dighalia and 43 in Fultala.  Khulna Superintendent of Police Mohammad Saidur Rahman said that there will be enhanced security and surveillance at important centres, but there will be no shortage of security at the general centres either.  Businesspeople dominate 2nd phase Upazila Parishad Elections too: TIB In Barishal, voting began at 121 centres in 13 unions of Hijla and Muladi upazilas.   However, voter turnout is seemingly low. Agents at these centres say that although the voter turnout is low in the morning, it will change as the day progresses.  Barishal district Superintendent of Police Wahidul Islam said security has been ensured for the upazila election. Out of 121 centres, 73 have been identified as important.   Also, 4 platoons of BGB have been deployed, he added.  Gangni Upazila Parishad election in Meherpur is being held smoothly.  According to the Assistant Returning Officer, voting is being held in 107 polling centres. Of the polling stations, 30 have been identified as very important.  The district administration, police and the Election Commission have completed all preparations to make the election festive, neutral and free. Voting is also being held in Katiadi, Nikli and Austagram upazilas of Kishoreganj and Biral, Bochaganj, Birganj and Kaharole upazilas of Dinajpur district.  UZ elections: 1 dead as law enforcers open fire over alleged rigging in Dinajpur Ansar and police have been deployed at Kishoreganj polling centres to ensure a free and fair election.  In Dinajpur, police, Ansar, RAB, BGB and executive magistrates have been deployed to the polling centers for the security of voters. 

Election Commissioner Md Alamgir on Thursday said that in the first phase of the Upazila Parishad election the voter turnout was 36.1 per cent. He said this while talking to the reporters at Nirbhachan Bhaban in capital’s Agargaon area. Commissioner Alamgir said 36.1 per cent vote were cast yesterday in the first phase of Upazila Parishad polls. Upazila election with or without party symbol doesn’t conflict with law: LGRD Minister Sonatala, Mirsrai and Kushtia Sadar upazilas witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 17 per cent while Joypurhat’s Khetlal upazila recorded highest voter turnout at 73.1 percent, he said. The first phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad Election was held in 139 upazilas of 59 districts in the country on Wednesday amid allegations of  irregularities and poor voter turnout. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on the day blamed rain and harvesting for low voter presence. UZ elections: Predominance of businessmen points to era of politics for profit, says TIB While talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the  capital’s Agargaon area he said the voter turnout may be between 30 to 40 per cent.  

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the voter turnout in the first phase of 6th Upazila Parishad polls was between 30 to 40 per cent. “However, the real number will be known later. Due to rain and crops harvesting voters were reluctant to go to the polling centres, he  said  while talking the reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the  capital’s Agargaon area on Wednesday afternoon. The CEC said upazila parishad elections was held in a  peaceful and neutral manner except few untoward incidents. “Being informed about the incidents, the EC took immediate measures and balloting at two centres were postponed. Law enforcement agencies and administration were very cautious about their respective  duties,” EC’s work is to see whether the voters were able to come or not, whether they were able to vote or not, whether there was any irregularity anywhere. “We have succeeded in discharging our duty”, he added. The first phase of the country’s sixth Upazila Parishad Election was  held in 139 upazilas of 59 districts in the country on Wednesday. The voting ended at 4:00pm without any recess. Some 1630 candidates, including nearly 570 chairman contenders are in the electoral race in the 139 upazila parishads against a total of 417 posts –-chairman post, vice chairman and women vice chairman posts in each upazila. There are more than 2.80 crore voters in the upazilas, according to the data of the Election Commission.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for holding the by-election to Jhenaidah-1 constituency billed for June 5. The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim stayed the High Court order that had postponed the Jhenaidah-1 by-polls. With this order now there is no legal bar to hold the election. Election-fear engulfs BNP, says Hasan Mahmud on BNP’s polls boycott Advocate M Syed Ahmed Raza, Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Morshed and Advocate BM Elias Kochi stood for the petitioner while Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub and Barrister Md Ashraful Islam represented the other side. On May 6, the High Court postponed the Jhenaidah-1 by-election, scheduled to be held on June 5, for 21 days. The HC also fixed Sunday for hearing on the election petition. Later,  Awami League backed candidate Nayeb Ali Joarddar filed a petition with the Appellate Division challenging the HC order. On January 7, ruling party backed candidate Abdul Hye won the election from Jhenaidah-1 constituency during the 12th national election, but it fell vacant following the death of Abdul Hye on March 16. Later, the EC declared the by-election for June 5 for the constituency. An election petition seeking cancellation of the gazette notification issued following the January 7 election, is processing at the High Court. The HC also fixed Sunday May 12 for hearing on the petition after postponing the by-polls election schedule for the constituency. Upazila Election: UP member jailed, another arrested for obstructing voters in Chuadanga Nazrul Islam, an independent candidate in the January 7 election, filed the election petition seeking a stay order on the gazette for the constituency. On February 1, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman issued a stay order for two months on the gazette notification. Before the two months expired, Abdul Hye passed away. Earlier on January 7, according to the returning officer office, about 49 percent votes were cast at Jhenaidah-1 constituency. But the final results of the election showed that 58.27 percent votes were cast, or 28,389 more than the first report. When the news spread, a petition was filed to issue a stay order on the voting results and gazette notifications published on January 8 and January 10, respectively.

If  there is any irregularity in the Upazila Parishad elections,  the Election Commission (EC) will deal with it with iron hand, Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman said on Wednesday "The way we handled the 12th national parliament election, the upazila will also be like that. There is no way to see it as less important  than the national elections." he said. He came up with these remarks in a view exchange meeting with the field administration officials along with the law enforcement agencies regarding the Sixth Upazila Parishad election at PTI Bhawan in Chattogram city. The Election Commissioner said that everyone will see how the elections are being conducted under the current government and there is no doubt that the election will be competitive. EC Anisur Rahman said, " Our only one target is to make elections fair. The presiding officers can take action wherever there is any irregularity, rigging or wrongdoing. Wherever you are on polling day, you will exercise all power in favor of the law. If there is a possibility of any kind of danger, we are by your side," he said. Chaired by Divisional Commissioner Md. Tofail Ahmed, CMP Commissioner Krishna Pad Roy, Chittagong Range DIG Nur Alam Meena, among others, were also present.

Bangladesh’s  12th  parliamentary election was unfree and noninclusive, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said on Wednesday in its primary findings on the January 7 balloting. “The overall experience including gains and losses are ominous for the future of Bangladesh’s democracy and democratic election, which are contradictory to the spirit and dreams of the glorious liberation war and independence,” according to the report revealed at a press conference at the anti-graft organisation’s office in Dhaka. Exeuctive Director of TIB Iftekharuzzaman spoke at the event. TIB doubts polls aspirants’ wealth statements disclosed in affidavits The TIB conducted the survey in 50 out of 300 constituencies under its 12th  National Parliament Election Process Tracking.   The country’s main opposition, led by BNP, boycotted the polls after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government refused to accept its demand that the vote be held under a non-partisan caretaker administration. According to the report “The election was not free and inclusive due to mutually contradictory and intransigent positions of the two largest political parties.” Burning people alive can never lead to democracy: TIB “The state of hostage of the future of democracy to this contradictory agenda and intransigence-driven conflict has been further exacerbated.” it added. It said “The agenda to ensure continued stay in power through one-sided election has been successfully achieved, the legality of which may not be challenged, or may not hold if challenged. But in terms of political integrity, democratic and moral values this success will remain ever debatable.” The key elements of the concept of democratic election and national international good practices like free, inclusive and above all, the precondition of a level playing field for free, open and unrestricted competition were not met, said the report. In favour of free, fair, inclusive election, not for or against any political party: TIB The report also highlighted the role of the Election Commission.  “The Election Commission,” it said, “sometimes by compulsion in the name of Constitutional and legal compulsion and on occasions by design, played the role of a key catalyst for the realization of the agenda of the one-sided election. Other state institutions, especially law enforcement agencies and administration were also used to play, or played the same role in similar ways.” “It has once again been proved that the zero-sum game of electoral politics in the country has no relevance to political ideology. Despite being an election without any meaningful political opponent, where fabricated competitions were staged between the ruling party nominated candidates and against its own ‘independents’ and those of other protégé parties, violations of electoral code of conduct have been pervasive including unhealthy rivalries and violent hostilities which had nothing to do with political ideology or public interest,” said the report. Meaningful development hinges on assurance of democracy, freedom of speech: TIB The report concluded that “Finally, as ominous the experience around the Twelfth Parliament Election is for democratic future of Bangladesh, it is going to be a test case of lessons on what countries and peoples around the world with democratic aspirations would need to do and avoid, especially in terms of democratic backsliding and related electoral strategies and innovations.”  

Awami League candidate Nilufar Anjum Poppy has won the Mymensingh-3 seat after voting at a centre that was suspended over irregularities during the general election held on January 7. Prof. Mosharraf Hossain, presiding officer of Valukapur High School centre, announced the unofficial result on Saturday evening. Out of 3,032 votes in this centre, Awami League's Nilufar Anjum bagged 1,295 votes while her nearest rival, independent candidate with truck symbol Somnath Saha got 355 votes. With this, Poppy secured a total 53,196 votes while Somnath Saha earned 52,211 votes. As a result, Poppy has won over Somnath by 1,925 votes. Out of 11 seats in Mymensingh District,  Awami League has won 5 seats while independent candidates won 6 seats. “As Awami League managed to bag this seat, its total number of seats now rose to 223 out of 299 constituencies.” Earlier, the Election Commission postponed the election of Naogaon-2 following the death of a candidate.  

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.