polls
BNP, Jamaat will create unrest before polls, Tarikat chairman tells JS
Tarikat Federation chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari on Wednesday said that BNP and Jamaat would do subversive activities later this year to destabilise the country ahead of next general elections.
Bashar said that while the country is moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina there is a conspiracy to destabilise the country by the BNP and its alliance Jamaat.
He said that he has information that BNP and Jamaat will start killing again from next August.
“They want to take the country towards another direction in August, September, October and November. Killing, militancy will increase, I am asking the government to be aware of this.”
“No matter what conspiracies they do, the next election will be held as per the constitution,” he said.
He made the statement while participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on President’s speech in Parliament.
Bashar said that Hasina will return to power through next national elections.
He said that he will also be elected as MP in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“In the next election, the prime minister will be the prime minister again. I will also be an MP from the Tarikat Federation, there is no (chance of any) mistake,” he said.
Mentioning that the national election will be held in the first week of January next year, he said, "whether BNP comes or not, it does not matter at all.”
He said that the election will be held under the leadership of the 14-party alliance leader Sheikh Hasina.
He called on all the pro-liberation forces to unite under the leadership of Hasina.
Ruling party MP Kujendra Lal Tripura said that 50 to 60 percent of Khagrachari area has come under electrification.
“Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board through the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is trying to light up the area with Tk 217 crore solar panels. We want electricity in the areas where it is possible to reach.”
Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman said that earlier Begum Para was in Canada.
“Now Begum para is being established in many countries of the world. Not only politicians, but also government officials are buying houses abroad.”
Pir Fazlur said that many are buying 10-20 houses in Canada, Dubai.
“No action is taken against money laundering from the country.”
He also raised questions about how the central bank monitors.
He said that the defaulted loan in the bank is Tk 1.5 lakh crore.
“If you do the actual calculations, it will exceed Tk four lakh crore. The owner of one bank is taking loan from another bank. Actions should be taken against them.”
The Jatiya Party MP said that everyone talks about development.
“But some leaders do not see development. They visit their area occasionally. They are leaders of Awami League, but want to be elected in the future.”
Criticising the sluggish implementation of development projects and the increase in project cost, Pir Fazlur said that if the duration of the project increases, the cost also increases.
“Corruption is inextricably linked with it.”
Democracy is refined by practicing it, not by prescription from diplomats: Nowfel
Criticising the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on Wednesday said no election or electoral process is perfect.
Democracy is refined by practicing it, not by prescription from diplomats, he said apparently reacting to a joint statement issued by foreign missions yesterday.
Read more: Ex-Ducsu VP Nur sued for making ‘derogatory comments’ about deputy minister Nowfel
"Do foreign missions anywhere in this region or nearby comment on host country's internal electoral politics as they do in Bangladesh?" he tweeted mentioning that "partners not masters!"
Govt scripting new drama to divert BNP’s movement: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government has been preparing the scripts of new dramas to divert their pro-democracy movement to a different direction.
"We’ve seen many incidents, many ups and downs, and repressive acts, loss of lives, enforced disappearances, murders and false and fictitious cases. We’re seeing now that they (AL) are talking about arson violence. We’ve also seen a new drama of snatching militants from the court premises,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said the government has been writing the new drama scripts with an ‘evil’ political motive. “Their main target is to divert the movement that has begun with the core demands of people to a different direction.”
Nagorik Oikya arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Fakhrul said the government has also started indulging in the old game of filing fictitious cases against BNP leaders and activists as part of its move to suppress the opposition.
He said a case was filed by police against 150 people of BNP for hurling a crude bomb at Karwanbazar, but no one saw taking place such an incident there. “The witnesses also know nothing about it as there was no sound of an explosion.”
Read more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said already 96 such cases have been filed against 4,500 identified and 10,000 unidentified accused belonging to BNP. "It means their old game has started. They’ll carry out the incidents and we’ll face the cases and thus we’ll remain busy going to the court and they’ll get their job done.”
New strategies to manipulate polls
He said the ruling party invents new strategies when the election time comes to cling to power in one way or another.
Fakhrul said a strong movement is the only way to get rid of the current situation. "The only way to remove this regime is forging unity of the people and wage a movement for holding a credible and neutral election.
“A new parliament and a new government will be formed through that election and thus a scope will be created to materialise the dreams of the people,” he hoped.
The BNP leader said no fair and acceptable election can be held under the Awami League government. “Our political culture has reached a point where elections are not possible under a partisan government. So, the polls must be held under a caretaker government.”
He called upon the political parties to get united to ensure the fall of ‘usurper’ the Awami League regime.
Corruption institutionalised
Fakhrul said the police, civil and all other administrations are busy flattering the ruling party. “The worst thing they have done by completely institutionalising corruption. There is no sector in which they have not committed corruption."
He said the MPs distributed the allocated money of the Union Parishads among the ruling party chairmen. “Even, the Awami League leaders and workers get 10-20% share of money from different allowances such as old-age and widow ones. Zila Parishad has been set up and its main job is to plunder public money.”
The BNP leader said Awami League has now become a huge burden for the nation. “If we cannot remove this burden from our shoulders, then we will all sink with them. We’re about to sink”.
Dhaka rally surely at Nayapaltan
Fakhrul alleged that the government still did not give their party permission to hold its final rally in Dhaka on December 10. “As we always hold our programmes in front of our party office, we will definitely hold the rally there on December 10.”
Read more: No obstacle can stand in front of BNP now: Fakhrul
He called upon the authorities concerned of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to give permission for the rally without buying time and making any trouble. “Take all steps so that we can smoothly arrange the programme.”
The BNP leader said they want to hold the rally peacefully as they are carrying out their movement in a peaceful manner. “It’s now the responsibility of the government to cooperate with us in holding the rally peacefully.”
Play key role in establishing polls-time neutral govt: Mosharraf urges students
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday urged the students to play the key role in establishing the polls-time neutral government and unseating the current regime through a strong movement.
“The challenge before us now is to oust this government. Our main demands will be the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and the installation of the non-party caretaker government to hold a credible election,” he said
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader recalled that Ayub Khan was ousted during the Pakistan period through a revolution of mass people and students. “The students played a pivotal role in that movement. The same way students saved the people of Bangladesh by ensuring the fall of despotic ruler Ershad in 1990 under the leadership of Chhatra Dal.”
Read more: Attack on JCD: BNP demands DU VC's removal
“The current autocratic regime will not go away easily…So, Chhatra Dal has to play the key role in restoring democracy and establishing the caretaker government by overthrowing this dictatorial Awami League government as they did during the anti-Ershad movement,” he said.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) arranged the programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking what BNP calls ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975.
Though the rally was scheduled to begin at 2pm, thousands of JCD leaders and activists from different parts of the capital thronged Nayapaltan by noon, halting traffic on both sides of the road in front of the BNP office, causing immense suffering to commuters.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League government fears BNP and the party’s leaders as it has been staying in power by snatching the votes of people on the previous night of the election day in 2018.
“Awami League has tried to run the country by giving lip services, but it has failed to do so. This party has annihilated democracy and brought the economy to the brink of destruction through plundering,” he observed.
The BNP leader said Bangladesh is now facing a shortage of dollars due to the widespread corruption and looting by the current regime.
“The people have got fed up with the current government’s misrule amid the growing price hikes in daily essentials and fuel and loadshedding of power. So, people of entire Bangladesh have got united to protect the country from the grasp of the current government,” he said.
Mosharraf said people are participating in BNP’s rallies spontaneously braving all obstacles to register their protest against misrule.
Read more: JCD leader’s death: BNP calls hartal in Bhola for Thursday
“No barrier could stop our rallies. We believe the way the people across the country have made all the rallies successful by defying all the barriers, the rally of Dhaka will be successful in the same way,” he said.
BNP announces four district unit committees
BNP on Tuesday announced the partial committees of its Dhaka, Bhola, Barishal and Narayanganj district units as part of a move to overhaul the party.
Khandkar Abu Ashfaq was made the president and Nipun Roy Chowdhury the general secretary of the party’s Dhaka district unit body, said a press release signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Besides, Khandkar Shah Mainul Hossain Biltu was appointed as the senior vice president while Shamsul Islam as the senior joint general secretary, and Erfan Ibn Aman Omi as the organising secretary of the committee. Omi is the son of BNP Chairperson's advisor Amanullah Aman.
Read more: Dhaka north BNP’s 620 units form committees
The party also formed a convening committee of its Bhola district unit with Golam Nabi Alamgir as its convener, Shafiur Rahman Kiran as no-1 joint convener and Raisul Alam as member secretary.
BNP formed the convening committee of its Barishal south district unit by appointing Abul Hossain as its convener and Abul Kalam Shaheen as member secretary.
Meanwhile, the party constituted its Narayanganj district unit by making Gias Uddin its convener and Golam Farooq Khokon member secretary.
Read more: BNP forms convening committees for Dhaka’s south, north
Besides, Mamun Mahmud was made no-1 joint convener while Monirul Islam Robi, Shahidul Islam Titu, Khandkar Mashukul Islam Rajib, Lutfar Rahman Khoka, Mosharraf Hossain and Jewel Ahmed joint conveners.
Canadian envoy discusses polls, rights issues with Fakhrul
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nicholls on Monday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to Bangladesh’s upcoming national election and human rights situation.
Nicholls arrived at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 1:30pm and had a 'closed-door' meeting there with a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were present at the meeting that ended around 3:10pm.
Read more: BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet
Later, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters about the meeting and subjects they discussed.
“We had a very good discussion. We talked about all issues relating to Bangladesh’s present perspective, especially, human rights, our elections, and the rule of law and security of public life,” he said.
Khosru said Canada attaches great importance to human rights, democratic rights, security of public life, the rule of law, and good governance. “Canada and some other countries always take a strong stance on these issues.”
He said Canada has been bilaterally telling the Bangladesh government at different times that human rights have been violated here in the country.
Like the people of Bangladesh, democratic countries, multilateral bodies, and human rights organisations all over the world, Canada is also concerned over many issues since it gives importance to democracy and human rights.
Asked what Canada said about the next polls, Khosru said he cannot elaborate on what they discussed inside. “We’ve discussed all the issues relating to Bangladesh’s current political perspective. But there is no scope to say elaborately what we discussed.”
He said BNP has no reason to go to the next polls under the current government and BNP is strict on this stance.
Read more: BNP ready to deliver its message in AL's backyard
He said a caretaker government must be established ousting the current government for ensuring a credible election where people will be able to freely exercise their voting rights. “We’re least bothered about what Awami League, the Election Commission and others, say about the next polls.”
Khosru said Bangladesh and Canada have long been maintaining diversified relations.
He said Bangladesh exports goods worth about $2 billion to Canada as the country gave Bangladesh duty-free market access to Canada, for most goods, in 2003. “This facility was given during the BNP government and as the then commerce minister I negotiated it with Canada.”
Besides, the BNP leader said Canada is also an important destination for Bangladesh to import many essential food items, including wheat, and pulses. ”Canada has also now become a popular destination for our children for studies.”
A good number of Bangladeshis have been living in Canada and they are contributing to that country’s economy and society."
Detailed schedule of Rangpur City Corporation election announced
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam today announced the detailed schedule of Rangpur City Corporation election -- to be held on December 27 -- at the Election Commission Secretariat.
The election date was finalised at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC) with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair earlier.
The EC secretary said candidates can submit their nomination papers to the returning officer and assistant returning officer till November 29. Returning officer will scrutinize the nomination papers on November 29 and December 1. December 8 has been set as the final date for withdrawal of candidature.
Earlier, he said the Election Commission also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in the election.
Read more: Rangpur city election on December 27
Voting will start at 8:30 am and continue till 4:30 pm without any break.
Director General of Election Training Institute Abdul Baten will serve as the returning officer of Rangpur City Election.
A total of 3,93,994 voters will cast their votes at 193 centres to elect the Rangpur mayor, 27 general ward councillors and 11 reserved ward councillors.
The election to the city corporation was held on December 21, 2017. The first meeting was held on February 19, 2017. The tenure will end after five years of the first meeting.
The meeting also held an elaborate discussion on different local government elections and by-elections in vacant posts.
The EC also decided to hold elections to five municipalities and a number of union parishads on December 29.
Read more: Thousands gather in Rangpur city to join BNP’s anti-govt rally
The EC secretary said the candidates can submit their nomination papers to the returning officer and assistant returning officer till December 1. Returning Officer will scrutinize the nomination papers on December 3. December 10 has been set as the final date of withdrawal of candidature.
He also added that the Election Commission also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in the union level election.
AL has no problem with non-violent BNP protests: PM Hasina tells MPs
The ruling Awami League has no problem with BNP’s on going anti-government programmes, unless it turns violent.
“They (BNP) are holding processions, rallies and meetings in different parts of the country, we do not have any objection to that. But if they do any violent activities in the name of movement it will be tackled with iron hands,” Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told reporters quoting the AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He held the briefimg emerging from Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its president and leader of the House in the chair on Wednesday night.
Read more: PM to address the media on UK, US visit Thursday
He also said that the party will take punitive measurers against those who worked against the party nominated candidates in the local government elections.
Deputy Minister for Education Ministry Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said the prime minister asked the party's MPs to publicise the government development activities and successes made in the last 13 years.
“She also told us to counter the anti government propaganda instantly,” he said
CEC appreciates environment of local govt polls
Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said election environment in hundreds of local government elections should be maintained in the future as the Commission has not seen violence, vote rigging or received any complaints.
"This is a good sign. If it can be maintained, it will work in the future. Now there is a voting environment. That is our purpose," he said.
He was talking during a briefing on the monitoring of local government polls in different areas from the Election Commission headquarters.
The CEC said that they have not seen violence, vote rigging or received any complaint while monitoring four municipalities from here.
CCTV cameras were used only in four municipalities for monitoring from the headquarters.
These are: Fatikcchari Municipality of Fatikcchari Upazila of Chattogram, Hazrabari Municipality of Hazrabari Upazila of Jamalpur, Parvatipur Municipality of Parvatipur Upazila of Dinajpur and Vishwanath Municipality of Vishwanath Upazila of Sylhet.
Read more: No decision taken yet over suspended Gaibandha -5 polls: CEC
He also said that many people stood in line and voted in an orderly manner.
“It seems to me that the voters have exercised their rights with restraint and patience,” he said.
He informed that the Commission will also monitor the Faridpur-2 seat polls to be held on November 5.
The Election Commission conducted polls on Wednesday in local government bodies to elect representatives in upazilas, municipalities and union parishads across the country.
Voting started at 8 am and continued till 4 pm.
EC also conducted voting in three upazilas - Karnaphuli of Chattogram, Jagannathpur of Sunamganj and Osmaninagar of Sylhet. Besides, by-election was being held for the posts of chairman of Netrakona Sadar, Roumari and Chilmari of Kurigram and Khoksa upazila of Kushtia.
The by-election to Khoksa Upazila Parishad of Kushtia started amid clashes between supporters of the rival candidates.
As soon as voting started at 8 am, fight broke out at Kadirpur Government Primary School voting centre between supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate Babul Akhter and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Motahar Hossain Khokon.
Read more: Deal with any intimidation in next polls, CEC asks DCs, SPs
The EC took votes in many Union Parishads (UP). The UPs are Baratara and Tulsi Ganga in Khototal Upazila of Joypurhat; Ziarthi and Kanchanpur of Kushtia Sadar, Chithlia and Dhubail of Mirpur; Adra and Phulmocha of Melandah in Jamalpur Upazila; Raipara, Mahmudpur and Sutarpara of Dohar Upazila of Dhaka; Perli and Panchgram of Kalia Upazila of Narail; West Jaflong, Goainghat, East Jaflong and Madhya Jaflong of Goainghat Upazila of Sylhet; Kharera of Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria and Durlabpur of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj.
The EC also conducted by-elections for a total of 60 member posts under 58 Union Parishads in 52 upazilas of 36 districts.
Polls underway at 57 Zila Parishads
Elections at 57 Zila Parishads of Bangladesh began on Monday (October 17, 2022) morning by using electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The voting began at 9:00 am and will continue until 2:00 pm without any break under the supervision of the deputy commissioners who are acting as returning officers, according to the Election Commission.
Voting in the Zila Parishads will be held at 925 booths in 462 centres across the country while 60,866 voters will cast their vote.
Read:EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC
Elected representatives of other local government bodies such as Union Parishads, municipalities and Upazila Parishads are eligible to vote in the election.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Sunday that CCTV cameras will be used in every centre in the Zila Parishad elections just like the recently held Gaibandha-5 elections. The EC suspended the election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat for “widespread malpractices” recorded in the CCTV cameras.
The Election Commission says it will monitor the 57 Zila Parishads polls of Bangladesh through CCTV cameras from a monitoring cell set up in its headquarters in Dhaka.
Read: Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC