The United States says it is looking forward to “deepening” its relationship with Bangladesh in a number of areas – addressing energy, climate issues and economy. “That being said, we also will continue to push for the freedom of expression of religion and faiths of all people around the world,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a regular briefing at the US Department of State on June 5. REad: US consistent on the need for free, fair election in Bangladesh: White House Responding to a question on the recently held Gazipur City Corporation election, he said, “I’m not going to speak or get into specific election results in another country.” “What I will just say is what you just heard me say to your colleague, is that we are committed to the promotion of democracy and free and fair elections around the world,” Patel said. REad: US calls upcoming national election an 'internal' affair of Bangladesh The government, political parties, civil society, and the media in Bangladesh have all expressed their desire that the upcoming national election be free, fair, and peaceful, Patel said. In support of free, fair and peaceful election, the US announced a new policy that allows them to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals, including current or former officials, pro-government or opposition political party members, and others believed to be responsible for or complicit in “undermining the democratic election process” in Bangladesh, Patel said. REad: Exaggeration, inconsistency in Congressmen’s letter: Shahriar Alam

Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Azmat Ullah Khan on Thursday (May 25, 2023) cast his ballot in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Election saying he will accept whatever the result is. “I always respect the people’s opinion and whoever gets elected today, I will accept the results,” he said while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Tongi Darus Salam Madrasha Centre around 9 am. People are going to the polling stations spontaneously and after seeing long queues of voters it can be presumed that a participatory election is being held in Gazipur. Also read: Peaceful voting underway; Law and order situation good: Zayeda “I am a political worker and my party Bangladesh Awami League is a democratic political party and you (people) have seen that when I went out for campaigning, I was always with the people as a political activist,” he said. Voting in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election began on Thursday using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations in a peaceful manner. The voting began around 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/F Read more: 13,000 law enforcers to be on polls duty: GMP Commissioner

Early voting has been peaceful  and the law and order situation is also good, said Zayeda Khatun, an independent mayoral candidate in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) elections. She made the remark while talking to reporters after casting her vote at Kanaia Government Primary School polling station around 10 am. There has been no complaint so far against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), she said adding “I am hopeful about my victory in the  election.’ Also read: Voting underway in Gazipur City Corporation election She also urged the voters to cast their votes at the respective polling stations. Meanwhile, Gazipur City Corporation's (GCC) former mayor Jahangir Alam also cast his vote at the same polling station with his mother. Voting in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election began on Thursday using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations in a peaceful manner. The voting began around 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. Read more: Voting underway in Gazipur City Corporation election

Voting in the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election began on Thursday (May 25, 2023) using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations in a peaceful manner. The voting began around 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. Eight candidates are contesting for mayoral posts in the election and there are 248 councillors and 79 female councilor candidates. A total of 11,79,476 voters are eligible to vote and of them, 5,92,762 are men and 5,86,696 are women, and the number of transgender people is 18. Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana said that Gazipur City Corporation voting will be held in a free and fair environment and voters can cast their vote peacefully. Also read: Gazipur city polls will be free and fair, says EC commissioner The commissioner said this while exchanging views with journalists after a meeting with magistrates on maintaining law and order in the Gazipur City Corporation election at Gazipur Circuit House on Wednesday. The election commission will monitor the election through CCTVs, which were set up in all polling stations. Tight security A total of 13,000 law enforcers have been deployed to maintain law and order during the election, said Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Molla Nazrul Islam on Wednesday. “ 20-22 members of law enforcement agencies will perform duty at each centre. I hope a free and fair election will be held with the efforts of all amid foolproof security,” he told UNB. Twenty platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have been deployed alongside 30 teams of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Ansar members, said Returning Officer Faridul Islam. Read more: 13,000 law enforcers to be on polls duty: GMP Commissioner Mobile teams will be there in 57 wards while 19 striking forces led by 19 magistrates will remain vigilant at the polling centers.

A total of 13,000 law enforcers will be engaged to maintain law and order during the Gazipur City Corporation election slated to be held on Thursday (May 25, 2023), said Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Molla Nazrul Islam on Wednesday (May 24, 2023). “ 20-22 members of law enforcement agencies will perform duty at each centre. I hope a free and fair election will be held with the efforts of all amid foolproof security,” he told UNB. Campaign in the Gazipur City Corporation election has ended and the local administration has taken all-out preparation to hold the polls.Twenty platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have been deployed alongside 30 teams of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Ansar members, said Returning Officer Faridul Islam.Already the EVM machines and all necessary materials have been sent to the polling centers while CCTVs were installed at all polling centres. Read more: SCC elections: 387 aspiring candidates inc.11 for mayor submit nomination papersMobile teams will be there in 57 wards while 19 striking forces led by 19 magistrates will remain vigilant at the polling centers. Already 351 polling centres out of 480 have been declared vulnerable and additional forces will be deployed at these centres, said FDaridul.Gazipur City Corporation election will be held on Thursday, using electronic voting machines (EVMs) at all polling stations.Eight candidates will contest for mayoral posts in the election and there are 248 councillors and 79 female councilor candidates.A total of 11,79,476 voters are expected to exercise their franchise and of them, 5,92,762 are males while 5,86,696 are females and the number of transgender is 18. Read more: SCC elections: 387 aspiring candidates inc.11 for mayor submit nomination papers