polls
BNP won’t join next polls on foreigners’ advice: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said their party’s participation in the next general election will depend on people’s decision, not on the advice of foreigners.
"Our Foreign Minister has requested the US to bring BNP to polls. We think the election will be held in Bangladesh and people here will suggest whether BNP will go to the polls or not,” he said.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said their party will go to the polls only when people gain confidence that there will be a fair and neutral election in the country and they will be able to vote with their own hands, not through machines. “But we won’t join the polls on the advice of foreigners.”
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the members of the newly formed committee of Sylhet district BNP.
Also read: Cell formed to convict BNP leaders ahead of next polls, alleges Fakhrul
The BNP leader said there has never been a fair election under the government, nor will there be in the future.
He said it is not possible to overcome the country’s political problems by seeking America’s favour for ensuring BNP’s participation in the election. “Resignation of the government and holding the election under a non-partisan government is the only way to get a solution. “
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen recently briefed his US counterpart Antony Blinken about Bangladesh’s “transparent and independent” election commission apparently suggesting him to encourage BNP to take part in the election process.
“Bring them (BNP) to the election process to follow the rules and procedures of the country,” he told Blinken during their bilateral meeting at the US Department of State.
Mosharraf criticised the foreign minister for what he said tarnishing the country’s image by currying favour with the USA. “The foreign minister played a subservient role in the USA. He even belittled himself by saying that America gave him shelter when he had no place to stay and eat. ”
He said the Foreign Minister’s statements during a bilateral meeting with Blinken have exposed how weak the government has become.
Also read: Govt starts new game of subduing opposition: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the country is now grappling with so many problems, including widespread corruption, extortion, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, and repression and soaring prices of essential items, as there is no democracy and people’s voting and other rights. “The autocratic government has failed to solve all these problems.”
Malaysia's ruling party wins big again in state polls
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri’s Malay party has defeated its allies in the ruling party and the opposition to score a landslide victory in a second state election that could presage early national polls.
Saturday's big win in southern Johor state by the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, mirrored its victory in another state election in November and will embolden supporters to escalate demands for early general elections, which are not due till July 2023.
The UMNO-led National Front coalition governed Malaysia for 61 years until its shocking ouster in 2018 due to a multibillion-dollar financial scandal. But the reformist alliance that won those polls collapsed in 2020 due to defections and the National Front made a comeback as part of a new government.
READ: KL to cooperate with Dhaka on agricommodities: Malaysian Minister
The new government, however, is plagued by infighting with the National Front, going up against some of its allies in both state elections. Although the parties have agreed to share power until the next general election, factions in UMNO are anxious to capitalize on its victories and revive its former rule.
“This is a confirmation of recent trends. People voted strongly for the National Front because they want stability" following political turmoil in the past few years, said James Chin, an Asian expert at Australia’s University of Tasmania.
A low voter turnout and a highly divided opposition were in UMNO's favor, he said.
“Ismail Sabri will be under tremendous pressure now to call for general elections. UMNO wants to build on the momentum generated by its state victories. A big win in the general election will also mean that UMNO can rule on its own without a messy coalition,” Chin said.
Ismail was greeted with chants of “dissolve Parliament” when he arrived at a National Front center in Johor late Saturday ahead of the announcement of full official results. The Front secured 40 out of the 56 state seats. Its allies in the ruling coalition only won three seats while the opposition took 13.
Chin said UMNO itself is divided and the premier, who is a second-tier leader in UMNO, is likely to try and delay national polls as he may be replaced if the National Front wins.
Ismail took over the helm just seven months ago after his predecessor, from another party in the ruling coalition, resigned due to defections. UMNO’s president can't take the top job as he is fighting a corruption charge. Ismail's government has a thin majority, and he has inked a pact with the opposition for support in case there are defections.
The state victories also appeared to be a remarkable turnaround for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was a key figure in the campaigning despite his conviction and 12-year jail sentence for corruption.
Najib is out on bail pending appeal and is also fighting dozens of other graft charges related to an international scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that has sparked public anger and led to his defeat in 2018 polls.
READ: Commerce Minister urges Malaysia to set up industries in Bangladesh
“The people’s voices are loud and clear. This is a people’s referendum ... They want stability. They want prosperity and development," Najib wrote on Facebook.
JP wants law to form next EC for holding acceptable polls
Jatiya Party (JP) led by Anwar Hossain Manju MP on Monday told President Abdul Hamid that the party wanted the next Election Commission to be formed under a law provided by the constitution.
A seven-member delegation headed Manju held talks with the president at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban, Jaynal Abedin, press secretary the president told UNB.
The delegation said the EC must get proper cooperation from the executive bodies of the government for holding a free and fair election.
READ: Electoral system in Bangladesh collapsed: GM Quader
However, it said respected acceptable personalities should be included instead of relying on bureaucrats if the president goes for selecting a search committee for EC.
Welcoming the delegation at Bangabhaban, the President Hamid said that the views and suggestions of the political parties are very important in forming an acceptable Election Commission.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary to the President Md. Joynal Abedin were also present on the occasion.
President Hamid opened the dialogue on formation of the next EC on December 20. The current EC is scheduled to end its five-year term in February next.
So far 18 of 32 political parties who were invited in phases joined the talks while six did not participate in the talks.
According to Bangabhaban press wing, the other parties invited for the dialogue are - Islami Front Bangladesh and Bangladesh National Awami Party on January 11, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( BNP) and National People's Party ( NPP) on January 12 Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Jaker Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Party on January 13 and Bangladesh Awami League on January 17.
READ: Dialogue before EC formation just a mockery, says BNP
The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament.
The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.
India to hold polls in 5 states amid pandemic
Five Indian states, including the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, will go to polls next month even as the third wave of the Covid pandemic grips the country.
The Election Commission on Saturday announced the dates for the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand in northern India, Goa in the west, and Manipur in the northeast.
Uttar Pradesh will vote over seven phases, starting February 10. Polling will be held in
Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand on February 14. And Manipur will go for a two-phase poll -- on February 27 and March 3. The election results will be out on March 10.
Defending its decision to hold the elections despite an alarming surge in Covid cases in the country, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said, "The holding of timely elections is the essence of maintaining democratic governance."
Also read: India makes 7-day quarantine mandatory for overseas arrivals
However, in a first in the country, the top poll body announced a moratorium on election campaign till January 15. Post which, poll rallies can be held only from 8am to 8pm. At the same time, the Commission urged all political parties to go for a digital campaign.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is in power in four of these five states, while the country's main opposition Congress party governs Punjab.
Uttar Pradesh with 403 assembly seats is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it's said that the road to Delhi passes through Lucknow, its capital, and the party that wins the state stands a fair chance of forming the next federal government.
Also read: India logs 90,928 new COVID-19 cases
Moreover, a win in Uttar Pradesh will be a major boost for the Prime Minister halfway through his second term in power. The general elections are due in India in 2024.
The announcement of the assembly polls came on a day when India recorded nearly 1.42 lakh new Covid cases, including 3,007 of the Omicron variant, in 24 hours.
Just a day before, the federal government set out new Covid-19 rules, making a seven-day quarantine mandatory for international passengers. The rules effective January 11 came in the wake of an exponential rise in Omicron cases across the country.
And three days ago, India reported its first Omicron death in the northwestern state of Rajasthan's Udaipur city. The 73-year-old victim, Laxminarayan Nagar, tested positive for Covid on December 15.
The man who had multiple comorbidities but was doubly vaccinated, succumbed to the Omicron strain of the coronavirus in the early hours of December 31, according to officials.
Omicron has been classified as "a variant of concern" by the World Health Organisation.
In fact, alarmed by the rising Omicron cases, India's federal government in mid-December warned states that "the variant is three times more transmissible than the Delta" and directed them to take action to rein in its spread.
IUTA exec council polls on Sunday
Teachers of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia will exercise their franchise on Sunday to elect an executive council to represent them.
Voting for IU Teachers’ Association (IUTA) Executive Council-2022 will begin at 9.30am and continue till 1.30pm, IUTA officials said on Saturday. Voting will be held in room no 427 of IU's Arts Building.
A total of 30 candidates from the Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-backed teachers’ alliances are in the fray for 15 posts, IUTA officials said.
READ: Miscreants assault 7 IU students in Kushtia
Law department Prof M Shajahan Mondol and Islamic history and culture department Prof M Jahangir Hossain will contest from Bangabandhu Parishad and Shapla Forum Panel for the posts of president and secretary, respectively
READ: IUTA election to be held on Dec 12
All necessary preparations have been taken to hold the polls in a peaceful manner, IUTA chief election commissioner Professor KM Abdus Sobahan said.
Electioneering tempo rises in Aushkandi
With the Supreme Court paving the way for Aushkandi union parishad polls in Habiganj, candidates vying for the chairman position are making an all-out effort to woo the electorate. The polls are slated for November 28.
Four candidates are vying for the chairman's post —Awami League-backed candidate Delwar Hossain, and independent candidates Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Hamid Nixon and Ezharul Islam.
Some 20,000 people are eligible to cast their ballots in the UP polls on Sunday.
READ: NSDA executive chairman visits Chevron’s Uttoron project in Sylhet, Habiganj
Five residents of Dwigor Brahman, including Nishi Sutra Dhar, had filed an application with the secretary of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Ministry, seeking inclusion of their village under Khalilpur union of Moulvibazar district.
After scrutiny, the deputy commissioner of the district had turned down the plea.
Meanwhile, incumbent chairman of Aushkandi UP, Muhibur Rahman Harun, adopted a resolution, seeking not to insert Dwigor Brahman village under his union. A writ petition was filed in the High Court (HC) in this regard.
On February 28, the HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned as to why the inclusion of Dwigor Brahman village under Aushkandi union should not be declared illegal.
Seven people, including the secretary of LGRD Minsitry, deputy commissioners of Habiganj and Moulvibazar district, were made respondents to the rule which was returnable in four weeks.
In the meantime, the Election Commission announced the schedule of the UP election.
On November 1, the current chairman of Aushkandi union filed a writ petition in the HC, seeking a stay order on the election under the union.
The HC later asked the authorities concerned to take a final decision on demarcating the boundary of the union within 15 days.
READ: 3 killed in Habiganj road crash
On November 23, the HC passed a stay order on the Aushkandi union parishad election. However, on November 24, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the way for holding the election, after imposing a stay on the HC order.
Delwar Hossain, an AL-backed chairman candidate, said, “A vested quarter is involved in playing a foul game over the election. The residents of Dwigor Brahman village have been casting their ballots under Aushkandi union since the Independence of the country.”
Taking a stance against the SC order, Muhibur Rahman said that Dwigor Brahman village is under Sadar upazila of Moulvibazar district and the residents of the village go to Moulvibazar for land registry purposes.
"But all development activities of the village have been carried out from the budgetary allocation of Aushkandi union," he said.
Pabna pre-poll violence: Man dies of injuries at Rajshahi hospital
A 45-year-old man who sustained injuries in pre-poll violence in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna district Monday night, died at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital a day later.
The deceased was identified as Sabuj Hossain, son of Mahatab Uddin of Chalna village in the upazila.
Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Sujanagar police station, said a clash broke out Monday night between the supporters of Awami League-backed Union Parishad chairman candidate Amin Uddin and his rival Omar Faruk in Bhaina.
Read: 2 hacked dead, 10 hurt in Meherpur pre-polls violence
Several people sustained injuries in the violence and some motorbikes were also vandalised, the OC said, adding that both sides submitted complaints in connection with the violence.
Of the injured, two men -- Sabuj, a supporter of Omar, and Anwar Hossain, a supporter of Amin -- were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital as their condition was said to be critical.
Sabuj succumbed to his injures around 9pm on Tuesday.
As the news of his death spread, Omar's supporters brought out a procession in the Chalna area, demanding a free and fair investigation into the violence and exemplary punishment to those responsible for the untimely demise of Sabuj.
Read: 15 hurt in Pabna pre-polls violence
Polls open in Iraq's general elections amid tight security
Iraq closed its airspace and land border crossings on Sunday as voters headed to the polls to elect a parliament that many hope will deliver much needed reforms after decades of conflict and mismanagement.
The vote was brought forward by six months in response to a popular uprising in the capital Baghdad and southern provinces in late 2019, when tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest endemic corruption, poor services and rising unemployment. They were met with deadly force by security forces firing live ammunition and tear gas. More than 600 people were killed and thousands injured within just a few months.
Although authorities gave in and called the early elections, the death toll and the heavy-handed crackdown prompted many young activists and demonstrators who took part in the protests to later call for a boycott of the polls.
A series of kidnappings and targeted assassinations that killed more than 35 people, has further discouraged many from taking part.
Read: Biden says US combat mission in Iraq to conclude by year end
A total of 3,449 candidates are vying for 329 seats in the parliamentary elections, which will be the sixth held since the fall of Saddam Hussein after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
More than 250,000 security personnel across the country were tasked with protecting the vote. Army troops, police and anti-terrorism forces fanned out and deployed outside polling stations, some of which were ringed by barbed wire.
“Get out and vote, and change your reality for the sake of Iraq and your future,” said Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, after he cast his ballot at a school in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to foreign embassies and government offices.
“To those who hesitate, put your trust in God and go and choose those you deem appropriate,” he added, reflecting concerns over a low turnout. “This is our opportunity.”
The 2018 elections saw just 44% of eligible voters casting ballots, a record low. The results were widely contested. There are concerns of a similar or even lower turnout this time.
Iraq’s top Shiite cleric and a widely respected authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has called for a large turnout, saying that voting remains the best way for Iraqis to take part in shaping their country’s future.
The election is the first since the fall of Saddam to proceed without a curfew in place, reflecting the significantly improved security situation in the country following the defeat of the Islamic State group in 2017. Previous votes were marred by fighting and deadly bomb attacks that have plagued the country for decades.
As a security precaution, Iraq has closed its airspace and scrambled its air force from Saturday night until early Monday morning.
In another first, Sunday's election is taking place under a new election law that divides Iraq into smaller constituencies — another demand of the activists who took part in the 2019 protests — and allows for more independent candidates.
Read:Death toll rises to 92 in blaze at coronavirus ward in Iraq
A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted earlier this year authorized an expanded team to monitor the elections. There will be up to 600 international observers in place, including 150 from the United Nations.
Iraq is also for the first time introducing biometric cards for voters. To prevent abuse of electronic voter cards, they will be disabled for 72 hours after each person votes, to avoid double voting.
But despite all these measures, claims of vote buying, intimidation and manipulation have persisted.
The head of Iraq’s electoral commission has said that initial election results will be announced within 24 hours.
Municipal polls must be held within 5-year timeframe; law being amended
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of the Local Government (Pourasava) Amendment) Act, 2021, aiming to strictly follow the timeframe for holding the municipal polls regularly in every five years.
The approval came from the virtual Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The PM joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other Cabinet members got connected with the meeting from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said sometimes it is seen some pourasava chairmen move the court seeking stay order on holding the next elections at the end of their tenures.
READ: Toughest Covid lockdown across country from Thursday: Cabinet Secretary
This is how, he mentioned, some chairmen prolong their stay in office for over five years -- even 15-16 years -- taking advantage of a clause in the existing law that stated that the present chairman will remain there till the next election is held.
“To stop this practice, the government has made this amendment in the 2009 law,” he said.
On completion of five years, the proposed law said, the government can appoint an administrator either from the government services who has administrative experience or any other eligible person.
“The appointed administrator will remain in the post for maximum six months, and the elections have to be held by this time,” the cabinet secretary said.
The meeting also decided to make the eligibility for enlistment of any new pourasava which has the minimum population of 2,000 per kilometer as it is now 1,500 per kilometre.
It also changed the name of pourasava member as pouro executive officer.
The meeting decided that the proposed law will include another clause mentioning that if any pourasava fails to pay salaries and other wages of its officers and employees for 12 months the government can abolish its status as a pourasava.
The Cabinet meeting also cleared the drafts of Essential Services Act, 2021 integrating Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1952 and The Essential Services (Second Ordinance), 1958.
After the passage of this proposed law, the Cabinet secretary said, the government will be able to declare any service essential when it will be necessary.
He said the services that will be included as essential are post, telecommunications, internet services, ICT, digital services, mobile financial services, digital financial services, power generation and distribution related services, railways, passenger and goods transportation through water, road and air ways.
READ: Cabinet body okays 10 proposals including import of petroleum fuel, LNG
Anwarul Islam said the government can declare this essential status for maximum six months. After the declaration, no strike, shut-off and lay-off will be allowed in that service.
Any breach of this law will be a punishable offence and if any labourer does that he or she will be fined by Tk 25,000 to Tk 50,000 and six months’ imprisonment or by both. For the owner, the punishment is Tk 100,000 maximum or one year’s imprisonment or both.
For enforcing any illegal strike, the punishment will be expulsion from the job or six months’ imprisonment or Tk 25,000 fine or both.
If anyone instigates others for breaching the law that person will be fined Tk 50,000 or one year’s imprisonment or both.
The Cabinet also approved the draft of Chittagong Division Development Board Ordinance, 1976 (repeal) Act, 2021 which will abolish the existing law as per the directives of the court that said all laws enacted during the military regimes will be scrapped.
The cabinet secretary said the meeting also discussed the offers from some African countries, including South Sudan, to take agricultural land on lease and produce agricultural products.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Foreign Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Commerce Ministry to look after the matter quickly and explore the opportunities.
She also asked them to explore more markets for the country’s agricultural products, and mentioned that Scandinavian countries welcome Bangladesh’s vegetable.
The government has allotted two acres of land in Purbachal for the Agriculture Ministry to establish an international standard laboratory to test and provide certificates to the outgoing products of the country for expediting export.
The meeting also discussed the delay of resuming classes in universities of the country.
The Cabinet secretary said the Education Minister informed the meeting that resumption of classes in any universities depends on the decisions of their syndicates.
She also said there might be delay in resuming academic activities in the universities as their dormitories are in bad shape since those were under lock and key for more than one and a half years.
The minister said the government has already announced two public examinations and those will be held in due time if the present situation continues or improves further. “There’ll be no problem in holding examinations if there’s no sudden deterioration in the situation,” the cabinet secretary said.
The PM also asked the Health Ministry to explore the technical side to vaccine the under-18 people.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to ratify article 29 of the forceful labour related ILO convention 1930.
This ratification will ease the country’s export in European countries as they have tagged a condition to ratify it for sending products to their countries.
AL invites applications from nomination seekers till Oct 6 for November polls
Ruling party Awami League will accept applications from those seeking its nomination for the Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-election, and elections to 10 municipalities and 848 Union Parishads in November till Wednesday (Oct 6).
Nomination seekers can collect application forms and submit these between 10:30am and 5:00pm every day till Wednesday from AL President Sheikh Hasina’s Political Office in Dhanmondi.
The Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur Upazila) by-election and the seventh phase polls to 10 municipalities will be held on November 2, as announced by the Election Commission. Elections to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) in the second phase will be held November 11.
The applications that are approved will then have different deadlines for submitting their nomination papers: October 10 for the Sirahganj-6 by-election, October 9 for the 7th phase municipal polls and October 17 for the 2nd phase UP elections.
Read: 848 UPs go to polls in second phase on Nov 11
Besides, the nomination seekers in the by-polls to the chairman posts of five UPs can collect and submit the application forms in the same timeframe.
Only mayoral candidates in the municipal polls and chairman contestants in the UP election can run with the symbols of political parties who nominate them. The aspirants for other posts like councilor, member posts and reserved seats cannot use symbols reserved for political parties in the local body elections but can rely on a form of unofficial backing.
On Wednesday last, the Election Commission announced the schedule for these elections.
The Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur Upazila) constituency fell vacant with the death of Awami League MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan. Swapan died at a hospital in Turkey on September 2, while undergoing treatment there for his kidney-related complications.
The 10 municipalities are Ghorashal in Narsingdi, Kasba in Brahmanbaria, Chhagalnaiya in Feni, Ramgrarh in Khagrachhari, Sonatala in Bagura, Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, Domar in Nilphamari, Lohagara in Narail, Pakundia in Kishoreganj and Chapainawabganj.