Election
By-elections to 5 vacant seats of BNP MPs on Feb 1, 2023
By-elections to the five parliamentary seats, left vacant after BNP MPs resigned, will be held on February 1, 2023.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule of the by-elections on Sunday after a meeting.
Read more: BNP MPs’ vacant seats: EC to announce schedule of by-polls Nov 18
The election schedule was finalised at a meeting of the EC with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair.
EC will conduct the by-polls to parliamentary seats -- Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2.
The EC secretary said candidates can submit their nomination papers till January 5. Returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on January 8 and January 15 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC to take action against 133 officials
The MPs who resigned were: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2; and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats.
Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit their resignations to the Speaker in person.
The seven MPs sent their resignations through email on the same day.
The Parliament Secretariat published a gazette notification announcing the parliamentary seats as vacant after their resignation.
BNP MPs’ vacant seats: EC to announce schedule of by-polls Nov 18
The Election Commission (EC) will announce the schedule of the by-elections to the vacant parliamentary seats of the BNP MPs on December 18 , said Election Commissioner Md Alamgir on Thursday.
He said this while talking to journalists at the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the city.
“We have a meeting on Sunday and discussion will be held on the by-election to vacant seats,” he said.
Read more: BNP MPs' decision to resign a 'mistake': Obaidul Quader
The by-election schedule will be announced after the meeting, he added.
On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.
The MPs who resigned are: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2 and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats.
Read more: 5 BNP MPs’ resignation: Election to vacant seats within 90 days, EC says
Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker in person.
The MPs sent their resignation through an email on the same day.
Democratic practice won't develop without electoral competition: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said that the democratic practice does not develop if there is no electoral competition among political parties..
For this, each party should arrange dialogue among themselves to reach consensus, he told the reporters after a meeting on law and order over Rangpur city corporation (RCC) election at the Deputy Commissioner's office.
“We have to sit at the table and discuss. Showing off power on the streets and election through ballot at the poll centre are not the same thing,” he said.
Read more: Govt’s cooperation needed for holding fair election: CEC
Expecting a participatory election, the CEC urged all parties to participate in the election spontaneously. The election commission cannot force anyone in this regard.
“But I will be happy if the BNP participates in the election,” he added.
The CEC asked the political parties to make people interested towards the election creating such an environment.
“If the election is not competitive, then it does not reflect the exact public opinion.”
Regarding the RCC election, Habibul Awal said strict action will be taken against anyone who obstructs the free exercise of people’s voting rights.
He urged the people of the city to go to the polling centres spontaneously on December 27.
CEC also ordered the returning officers concerned to observe the election on CCTV cameras besides monitoring from Dhaka.
Read more: CEC appreciates environment of local govt polls
Asked about the Gaibandha election, the CEC said action has been taken against those who were involved in the irregularities. This time, instructions have been given so that the poling agents responsible for the election malpractice cannot be present in the re-election.
The Election Commission also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in Rangpur City Corporation election.
A total of 3,93,994 voters will be able to vote at 193 centres to elect the Rangpur mayor, 27 general ward councillors and 11 reserved ward councillors. The last election to Rangpur City Corporation was held on December 21, 2017.
BNP MPs’ vacant seats: EC likely to announce schedule of by-polls on Dec 15
The Election Commission (EC) might announce the schedule of by-elections to the parliamentary seats that fell vacant after resignation of BNP MPs on Thursday, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir has said.
He said this while talking to journalists at the Election Commission office at Agargaon on Monday.
READ: BNP to stage demonstration at Nayapaltan tomorrow
“We’ve received the gazette announcing the seats left by BNP MPs to be empty. We’ll soon hold a meeting where we’ll decide when to hold the by-polls,” said Alamgir.
On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of the Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.
The MPs who resigned are: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2 and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats.
READ: BNP MPs to submit their resignation to Speaker of Parliament today
Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker in person.
Earlier, Rumeen Farhana announced the decision from the party’s Golapbagh rally on Saturday.
The MPs sent their resignation through an email on Saturday.
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!"
BNP's Dec 10 rally: Obaidul Quader optimistic about a wayout for venue
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Tuesday that the dispute over allocating space for BNP’s rally on December 10 will be resolved soon.
“A problem surfaced over the venue for BNP’s December 10 rally and there is no solution yet,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma at the Secretariat.
Replying to a question, the minister said “I am always optimistic, and I am optimistic over it. Whatever the situation is, a solution will come out.”
Read more: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar
“There is no reason for the people to panic. On behalf of my party, I want to say that we are in power, why would we want to create any unrest? Why will we do something that could create panic? We don’t need that,” he said.
“Now, if anybody attacks us, if there is any instigation, if they jump on us, will we sit idle? We hope the opposition will hold their rally peacefully,” he said.
Referring to the visit of the Indian High Commissioner, Quader said “There are many projects under road communication , and we have discussed the progress of the projects. We also discussed the Teesta issue. In reply to the Teesta issue, he said he will try his best (to resolve it).”
On September 27, BNP announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The party will conclude the divisional programmes by holding its last rally in Dhaka on December 10.
Police in Dhaka have asked BNP to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan, but BNP is determined to dol its rally in front of its party headquarters at Naya Paltan in Dhaka.
Read more: December-10 rally: BNP delegation sits with IGP
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not contain any such provision.
Gaibandha-5 by-election on January 4: EC secretary
By-election to Gaibandha-5 constituency will be held on January 4, said Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Tuesday.
Elections will be monitored through CCTV cameras as before while voting will be held through electronic voting machines(EVMs) from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, he told reporters after a meeting held at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
He also said that Dhaka regional election officer Faridul Islam has been appointed as the returning officer.
Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. Accordingly it was scheduled for October 12.
But the EC cancelled the election because of "widespread malpractices" on the election day due to rampant irregularities.
Later, a three-member committee was formed to look into the irregularities.
Following the recommendations of the committee, the Election Commission took punitive actions against 133 officials including an additional deputy commissioner, five sub-inspectors and returning officer of the election.
The candidates of the Gaibandha-5 by-election are-Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Jatiya Party candidate AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju, Bikalpa Dhara candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam, independent candidate Nahiduzzaman Nishad and Syed Mahbubur Rahman.
The constituency consists of Saghata and Phulchhari upazila and 339,743 people will exercise their franchise in the polls.
Election Commission staff submit demands with threat of work-abstention
The Election Commission officials on Tuesday set a deadline till December 4 to keep the National Identity Registration (NID) department under their control and stop all postings.
Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association submitted a copy of the written decisions to the EC secretary and Chief Election Commissioner after their meeting today.
Read more: Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman
If the demand is not implemented, they will start a movement for it within a day, the association informed.
The demands of the officials are: retainment of NID service activities under the Election Commission, stoppage of all postings on deputation in the Election Commission Secretariat, ensuring visible and effective steps to fill the vacant posts, approval of the EVM project proposed by the Commission including logistics (warehouse and vehicles), and implementation of the proposed organizational structure as soon as possible.
They said if visible measures are not taken by December 4 (Sunday) in all these matters, the EC officials will sport black badges on December 5 (Monday) and abstain from work for half a day on December 8 (Thursday).
They also said if no visible effective action is taken within that period, strict action will be taken as decided by the executive council of the association.
Read more: New secretary joins Election Commission
The announced programme will be held simultaneously at the Election Commission Secretariat, NID, Electoral Training Institute and all the field level offices.
However, the announced election activities will be exempted from the demonstration, they added.
A copy of the document signed by Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association President Muhammad Hasanuzzaman and Secretary General Rashedul Islam was also sent to journalists.
Govt’s cooperation needed for holding fair election: CEC
The government's willingness and overall cooperation are needed to hold a successful and fair election, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday.
“Without the govt’s sincere will and cooperation, it may not be possible to make the election successful to the desired extent,” he said in response to a question from reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
Besides, it will not be possible to hold the election in a fair and credible manner with the help of police and army only if the political parties themselves do not maintain a balance, he added.
If there is no consensus among the political parties, the Election Commission will not be able to hold a fair election, said the CEC.
Read more: CEC appreciates environment of local govt polls
“Understanding among political parties , their cooperation and a conducive environment need to be created for holding a fair election,” he said.
Regarding the dialogue among the political parties, he said no decision has been taken yet on another round of dialogue, but more dialogue needs to be held.
The CEC said, “In our existing system, the government is not the Awami League. Government has a different entity.”
“If there is no cooperation from the ministries, departments of the government, then it may not be possible to make the election successful. And so the political leaders are saying that dialogue is very crucial. We see there is no dialogue between the political parties. We think this is very necessary.”
He said he wants to convey this message to the political leaders through the media.
“I do not believe that a fair election will be possible by showing off power on the streets,” Awal said, referring to the political leaders who are saying that there will be a test of strength on the streets.
Read more: Law to decide Khaleda’s participation in next national polls: CEC
He urged them to participate in the election and compete maintaining the rules and regulations in the election field.
Democratic election is not possible without ‘effective competition, the CEC said adding, “Because we cannot create a balance with the police, it will be created only through healthy competition among political parties.”
Almost 60% of EVMs kept in Rangpur found to be defective
A total of 6035 electronic voting machines out of 10,759 stored in Rangpur region have been found to be defective.
Project officials informed the Election Commission after their evaluation ahead of Rangpur City Corporation elections to be held on December 27.
Before the 2018 national elections, the Election Commission bought 1.5 lakh EVMs at a cost of about Tk 4000 crores. The Commission stores EVMs in its regional offices across the country after their use in various elections.
Read more: Manipulation of EVMs technically impossible: Commissioner Alamgir
The project officials informed the Election Commission after monitoring the EVMs in Rangpur through a letter.
The letter informed that most of the EVMs have been damaged by termites. Most of the sensitive EVM equipment has become useless due to carelessness and negligence.
EVMs are being sent from Dhaka to conduct the vote in Rangpur city elections on December 27 as the equipment there cannot be used before maintenance, EC informed.
In such a situation, the project stakeholders have requested the Election Commission to take initiative to save the EVMs stored in different parts of the country.
Read more: 'Gaibandha by-election was an isolated case': Election Commissioner
In that letter, 8 more recommendations have been given for the preservation of the highly sensitive EVMs.
Candidates can submit their nomination papers to the returning officer and assistant returning officer till November 29. Returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on November 29 and December 1. December 8 has been set as the final date for withdrawal of candidature for Rangpur City polls.
Earlier, the Election Commission also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in the election.
Voting will start at 8:30 am and continue till 4:30 pm without any break.
Read more: Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman
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 cast their votes at 193 centres to elect the Rangpur mayor, 33 general ward councillors and 11 reserved ward councillors.