United News of Bangladesh

A delegation of Turkish election observers met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman at his Gulshan office on Wednesday night ahead of tomorrow’s national election. The delegation, visiting Bangladesh to observe the 13th National Parliament election and concurrent referendum, arrived at the Chairman’s office for the courtesy meeting, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The Turkish observers are due to monitor the polling process on Thursday (Feb 12) across the country. At the meeting, BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir and the Chairman’s Adviser Enamul Haq Chowdhury were present alongside Tarique Rahman.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday night visited Square Hospital in the capital to enquire about the health of his party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Tarique went to the hospital around 9:15 pm and met Rizvi, who has been undergoing treatment there since Tuesday afternoon,” said BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumon.  During the visit, he spoke to the attending doctors and sought detailed information about Rizvi’s current condition and progress of treatment. Earlier on Tuesday, Rizvi was admitted to Square Hospital after he developed breathing difficulties. Rizvi was suffering from fever, cold and breathing complications for the past few days.

UN experts on Wednesday said that the interim government must deliver an election and referendum that is ‘genuinely free, fair, safe and inclusive,’ grounded in respect for the human rights of all citizens, as the people of Bangladesh go to polls on Thursday. “There can be no free and fair election or meaningful political discourse without an equal right to freedom of opinion and expression, access to information and media freedom,” the experts said in a statement. The UN experts said they have followed with 'great concern the growing intolerance, threats and attacks' on journalists, human rights defenders, civil society actors, women’s groups and minorities as well as violence and killing of political activists with impunity in recent months. The experts are Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.  “While the interim government announced the large-scale deployment of law enforcement and military personnel to protect the electorate and the electoral process, we urge authorities to ensure that all security forces act in line with international human rights standards, respect the right to participation of all citizens and are fully accountable in a transparent process under civilian and judicial oversight,” said the statement. The experts said they were disturbed by the failure of the Electoral Commission to address serious breaches of the electoral code by political parties, and by its lack of preparedness to tackle the tsunami of disinformation on social media platforms, targeting over 50 million users, many of whom are young, first-time voters, susceptible to manipulation. “The interim government must reach out to social media companies and act swiftly to counter false or misleading information about the elections, while avoiding disruption of the internet and safeguarding the access of the media and the electorate to reliable, detailed and factual information,” the statement said. The experts also expressed concern that despite the threats, hostility and attacks against journalists and civil society, no election-specific protocol had been announced by the authorities to protect the media. “It is still not too late for the government to take the necessary protection and prevention measures to safeguard journalists, as well as human rights defenders, civil society observers, women activists and minority groups,” they said. “The authorities must halt arrests under repressive laws like the Anti-Terrorism Act and desist from arbitrary detention, intimidation or retaliatory measures.” The experts urged political parties and candidates to refrain from spreading disinformation or inciting hostility, discrimination or violence, including against women and minorities, smear campaigns against human rights defenders and from seeking to delegitimise or promote distrust in the electoral process. “This election - born out of a mass uprising that ousted an authoritarian regime - is not only about who will govern Bangladesh next but also about creating a society based on human rights and the rule of law,” the experts said. “We call on the new Executive to create conditions for tolerance of dissent, promotion of media freedom and pluralism, access to information and gender equality,” they said in the statement. It said, “For democracy to thrive the new government must uphold the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, association and public participation without discrimination or unjustified restrictions and create a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders.” The experts have been in contact with the government of Bangladesh on these issues.

In what is being hailed as the country's most significant democratic exercise in decades, Bangladesh is set to hold its 13th parliamentary election on Thursday. People are going to place their hopes on a fair and competitive election that could restore true democracy, choose the country’s leaders for the next five years and give them a strong public mandate to reform long-criticised systems. The voting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm without any break at 42,659 polling stations in 299 out of 300 constituencies across the country amid the presence of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff.  The election to Sherpur-3 constituency was cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. The voters would choose 299 public representatives out of 2,028 candidates on Thursday from 299 constituencies, including nominees of 50 political parties and independent contenders, in the 13th national election. In a brief televised address to the nation aired on Bangladesh Television (BTV), Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday called upon the nation to extend full cooperation and maintain a spirit of harmony to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. A total of 127,298,522 voters (in 299 constituencies) are eligible to cast their ballots in Thursday’s elections. Of them, 64,620,077 are male voters, 62,677,232 are female voters and 1,213 are third-gender voters. The country has a total of 127,711,899 voters in 300 constituencies. Two major political parties – BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami— are in the electoral race seeking public mandate to govern the country for the next five years. But Awami League is not in the electoral race this time after 30 years as the party boycotted the 15th February election held in 1996. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election. “I wish to reaffirm the election commission's unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election,” he said while briefing international election observers and foreign journalists in the city. The briefing was arranged at a city hotel on the eve of the Referendum 2026 and 13th Parliamentary Election to be held on Thursday (Feb 12). The CEC said transparency in the voting and counting process will be ensured. “Voters irrespective of gender, age or background are encouraged to participate freely,” he said. The CEC said ballots are issued only after proper identification and voting is conducted in secrecy in accordance with the prescribed rules. Any electoral dispute will be addressed strictly in accordance with established legal and constitutional procedures, he added. “Transparency remains a cornerstone of our election management,” he said, adding that approximately 330 international observers and more than 160 international journalists are independently covering the elections. Noting that special emphasis was placed on voter registration, he said, “Through a nationwide voter list update, approximately 4.5 million new voters have been enrolled, including 2.7 million women, bringing the total number of registered voters to over 127 million with a high level of data accuracy.” About the postal balloting system, Nasir Uddin said for the first time, the commission has introduced out of country voting through it supported postal ballots for Bangladesh diaspora voters. “Despite a limited preparation and outreach period, the response has been encouraging with approximately 0.8 million expatriate voters completing registration,” he said. At the same time, in-country postal voting has been undertaken for eligible categories of voters, he added. Explaining the polling process, he said the presiding officers assisted by assistant presiding officers and polling officers will manage polling operations and vote-counting at the polling stations in the presence of candidates or their authorized agents as well as accredited observers and journalists. After the close of polling, counting will be conducted at the polling stations under the supervision of the presiding officers, he said. “Results will be announced at the polling stations upon completion of counting and subsequently compiled and publicly declared by the returning officers,” Nasir Uddin said. Candidates A total of 50 political parties out of 59 registered ones are in the electoral race, while 2,028 candidates are contesting from 299 constituencies, including 1,755 nominated by political parties and 273 independent candidates. Of the contestants, only 81 are women, as some 30 political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, did not field a single female candidate in the polls. The highest number of candidates—291—are from BNP, while the party supports its electoral partners’ contenders in eight other constituencies. Jamaat candidates are running in 228 constituencies, while the party supports candidates nominated by its electoral allies in the remaining constituencies. Besides, 253 candidates are from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 192 from Jatiya Party, 90 from Ganaodhikar Parishad and 32 from the youth-led newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP). Thursday’s elections will be unique with several new features. A referendum—the fourth in the country’s electoral history—is being held simultaneously with a national election for the first time. Besides, an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system, combining digital registration and postal ballots, has been introduced alongside the manual balloting system for the first time in the country’s electoral history. Besides, the in-person voting period will be nine hours instead of eight hours, army personnel with magistracy power have been deployed on election duty, voter slips with candidate names or symbols can be distributed, and EC officials—three regional election officers—are acting as returning officers for the first time alongside 66 others, including Dhaka and Chattogram divisional commissioners and 64 district deputy commissioners. CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and drones are also being used at polling stations to monitor the balloting on Thursday. Security Personnel Nearly 958,000 members of law enforcement agencies are on the electoral duty across all 299 constituencies and beyond. In addition, around 2,100 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates are engaged on election duties to ensure the electoral code is maintained. The security personnel include 100,000 Army personnel, 5,000 Navy personnel, 3,730 Air Force members, 37,453 BGB personnel, 3,585 Coast Guard members, 187,603 police members, 9,349 RAB members and 570,000 Ansar and VDP members. The armed forces, BGB, Coast Guard, RAB, police, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Ansar Battalions work as mobile and striking forces to maintain peace and order in the election areas, while BGB, RAB, APBn and Ansar battalions operate on district, upazila and thana levels as well as the Coast Guard are in coastal areas. Outside the metropolitan areas, a team of 16–17 police and Ansar members are deployed at each normal polling station, while 17–18 personnel are at every vulnerable polling station. In metropolitan areas, 16 security personnel –police and ansar members-- are at a normal polling station and 17 personnel at each vulnerable polling station. In remote areas of 25 districts, a team of 16–18 police and Ansar members are at each polling station. Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Tuesday shared a statistics with journalists that from December 13 to date, law enforcement agencies have recovered around 850 weapons across the country. “The prima facie of bringing these arms, we believe, to be misused during the elections. He said, vested quarters want to carry out violence and they have not stopped their activities. But we’re aware of it.... here we can appreciate our law enforcement agencies for what they have done till now.” Sanaullah, however, said the EC is satisfied with the overall law and order situation so far, describing it as better than at any previous time, despite a few isolated incidents. “The Election Commission is satisfied with the law and order situation we have so far. It would have been better if the isolated incidents that have occurred had not happened. We are in a better situation than at any time in the past,” he said. Vehicle Movement The movement of five types of vehicles — motorcycles, trucks, microbuses, taxi-cab and motorcycles — will remain suspended on Election Day. Of these, movement of motorcycles would be restricted for midnight on February 10 until midnight on February 13,  Postal Voting, Observers, Journalists More than one million people, including half a million expatriates from more than 120 countries across the world, have already cast their votes through postal ballots. Regarding postal voting, as of Wednesday afternoon (3:40pm), 1138,192 voters cast votes including 526,376 expatriates through the postal ballots. Of them, 963,318 postal ballots have already reached the returning officers. The remaining ballots are currently in transit. If any postal ballot would not be reached by 4:30pm Thursday, the ballot won’t be counted. The people who already voted through the postal ballots also include 611,816 government employees working outside their constituencies, polling officials and prisoners. Polling Staff A total of 69 returning officers, 958 assistant returning officers, 43,078 presiding officers, 247,862 assistant presiding officers and more than half a million polling officers are engaged in election duties. In-person voting will be conducted at 42,659 polling stations, while counting of postal ballots will take place at 299 other stations. Altogether, there are 42,958 polling stations in 299 constituencies. Of the in-person polling stations, around 50 percent are treated as general centres, while the remaining 50 percent are being marked as vulnerable centres. The progress reports on polling will be shared at regular intervals, with results expected to be announced in phases. Counting of votes for both the parliamentary election and the referendum will begin simultaneously at the polling stations to avoid confusion or unrest. The EC expects most results are likely to be available by midnight, except for a few distant polling stations.    

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday called upon the nation to extend full cooperation and maintain a spirit of harmony to ensure a free, fair and peaceful 13th national election. In a brief televised address to the nation aired on Bangladesh Television (BTV) in the evening, the CEC described the upcoming polls as a ‘significant election in the history of Bangladesh’. “Casting a vote in this election is not only a civic right but also a responsibility,” he said, urging voters to exercise their franchise consciously and responsibly. Nasir called upon political parties, candidates and voters to act with restraint and uphold peace and mutual respect on polling day. No reason for voter turnout to dip below 60pc: Mahbub Ullah Terming the national election a democratic platform for the expression of differing views, he urged all to vote in a festive atmosphere and accept the results — victory or defeat — as the natural outcome of a democratic process. Appealing to voters, candidates, election officials, members of law enforcement agencies, journalists, election observers, service providers and all individuals involved, the CEC said, “Let us endure personal inconveniences and work together to make this great national undertaking a success. We want to hold a peaceful election.” He also urged voters to assist election officials, executive and judicial magistrates deployed in the field, and law enforcement agencies in addressing any untoward incidents. “With our collective efforts, we will be able to witness a beautiful, fair and peaceful election,” the CEC expressed hope. Polling centres receiving election materials as Bangladesh set for landmark election In his address, Nasir paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 martyrs, and wished speedy recovery to those injured in July 2024.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will cast their votes at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital on Thursday. The Chief Adviser will cast his vote at 10am, according to his press wing. Tarique Rahman is expected to cast his vote between 9:30am and 10am, said Shamsuddin Didar, a staff member of the BNP chairperson’s media wing. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed will also cast his vote at the same centre around 12pm, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. A total of 127,298,522 voters (in 299 constituencies) are eligible to cast their ballots in this election. Of them, 64,620,077 are male voters, 62,677,232 are female voters and 1,213 are third-gender voters. The country has a total of 127,711,899 voters (in 300 constituencies) –64,825,154 males, 62,885,525 females and 1,220 third-gender. Nearly 800,000 officials will be engaged in election duties in more than 42,600 polling stations in the 299 constituencies, while nearly another 800,000 security personnel will protect the polling stations. Meanwhile, some 50,000 observers from 80 registered domestic organisations will monitor the election, while nearly 500 foreign observers are expected to oversee the election.  

BNP Vice Chairman and Feni-3 constituency candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo on Monday said that Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty are now safe only in the hands of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. “Tarique Rahman will be able to govern the country by utilizing the experience of his paternal and maternal clans in running the country,” he said while speaking at an election rally at the Sonagazi Government Mohammad Chhaber Model Pilot High School ground in the afternoon. He added that the upcoming February 12 election will decide the country’s future direction — whether towards economic prosperity or conflict and violence. “If Tarique Rahman comes to power, the country will move towards prosperity. Development will happen regardless of party affiliation,” he said. Abdul Awal Mintoo also urged voters to remain vigilant during polling. “Go to the polling station after Tahajjud and Fajr prayers, ensure the station is guarded, and return home with your vote slip. No one should take away your right to vote through malpractice,” he said. He promised that if elected on the paddy symbol, he would devote himself to developing the constituency, including constructing a flyover in Lalpul, providing gas connections in Sonagazi, establishing an irrigation system, excavating canals, building a women’s college, introducing honors courses at Sonagazi Government Degree College, and improving roads, ghats, and medical facilities. He added that a master plan would be made for the area’s overall development and law and order. The rally was held under the chairmanship of Sonagazi Upazila BNP convener Joynal Abedin Bablu and moderated by member secretary Syed Alam Bhuiyan. BNP Central Executive Committee members Abdul Latif Johnny and Adv. Shahana Akhter Shanu, District Jubo Dal joint conveners Gazi Habib Ullah Manik and Anwar Hossain Patwari, Upazila BNP senior joint convener Jamal Uddin Sentu, and District Krishak Dal General Secretary Shamsuddin Khokon, also addressed the rally.

A group of women leaders on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission revoke the candidacy of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman for his ‘defamatory, hateful and misogynistic remarks against working women’ made from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The demand was raised during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The delegation also submitted a memorandum from 11 women organisations to the CEC outlining four key demands including the cancellation of the Jamaat chief’s candidacy. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party President Moshrefa Mishu said the recent comments made by Dr Shafiqur Rahman amounted to a gross insult to women and undermined their dignity, labour and contribution to society. “The recent derogatory, ugly and misogynistic comments made by Shafiqur Rahman about working women from his verified X account are not only an extreme insult to women but also a direct denial of the labour, honour and social role of the country's crores of working, self-respecting and contributing women,” she said. She said though the party concerned explained that the comment is as the result of ‘hacking’, this claim can’t be accepted for such remark published on a verified X account. No official statement, documentary evidence, or results of a transparent investigation have been made public on this matter, she added. EWA warns of rising election violence, code violations ahead of polls Referring to media reports, Moshrefa Mishu said a Bangabhaban staff was initially shown arrested in connection with the alleged hacking, but contradictory statements later emerged from law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, officials informed that no concrete evidence was found linking the detained person to the hacking incident, which intensified doubt on the hacking claim, she said. She said the working women in different sectors including garment industry have been making significant contributions to their families, society and the national economy through their hard works over the past several decades. “Making such statements in public that undermine working women goes directly against constitutionally guaranteed equality, human rights, women’s dignity and social justice,” she said. Mishu said that such remarks fuel hatred, discrimination and violence against women and pose serious threats to the safety, dignity and working environment of women workers. “Such irresponsible comments from someone holding a political leadership position are completely unacceptable,” she said. They in the memorandum placed a total of four demands that include immediate withdrawal of the derogatory remarks; an unconditional apology to working women; a clear commitment to refrain from making any future statements that demean women’s dignity and labour; and appropriate action by the Election Commission in line with its code of conduct and ethical standards including cancellation of the candidacy of the person. Nearly one million security personnel to guard Bangladesh elections Alongside Mishu, 10 other women and woman organisations are Dhaka University professor Samina Luthfa, Garments Sramik Mukti Andolan President Shabnam Hafiz, NPA spokesperson Ferdous Ara Rumi, organiser of the Women’s Political Rights Forum Nafisa Raihana, and women affairs secretary of Rastra Sangskar Andolan Zakiya Shishir, lawyer and rights activist Tabassum Mehenaj Mimi, president of Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation Sultana Begum, Central Member of Janobhashya Shamim Ara Nipa, Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Marjia Prova as well as Naripokkha.  

The Election Working Alliance (EWA) on Sunday voiced deep concern over a sharp rise in violations of the electoral code of conduct, violence, intimidation, hate speech targeting women, and other threats as the polling day approaches. The concerns were raised at a roundtable titled “Ensuring a Violence-Free and Fair Election: Essential Responsibilities of the Election Commission and the Government,” organised by the organisation at the Jatiya Press Club. Presenting field-level data collected nationwide, Rafiquzzaman Ruman, head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Manarat International University, said at least 275 incidents involving code violations, violence, harassment, humiliation and attacks against women have been documented, supported by visual evidence. He said violations ahead of the election are geographically widespread and structurally repetitive, with incidents reported from more than 36 districts. Such developments  undermine the neutrality and equality of the electoral environment and threaten the safety of candidates, campaign workers, supporters and voters, he added. The discussion was chaired by former government secretary and EWA President Professor Dr Md Shariful Alam. Among the speakers were North South University Professor Dr Tawfiq M Haque, Professor Dr Waresul Karim Bulbul, former diplomat Abdul Motaleb Sarker and EWA Vice President Dr Golam Rahman Bhuiyan. Professor Dr Tawfiq M Haque said that while grassroots enthusiasm for the election is visible, several risks are emerging alongside it. To address these risks, he said, responsibility lies not only with the Election Commission but also with law enforcement agencies and political parties. Former diplomat Abdul Motaleb Sarker said the upcoming election is crucial not only domestically but also internationally. He stressed that all stakeholders in the electoral process, not just the Election Commission, must act responsibly, and urged the Commission to learn from past shortcomings and move quickly toward stricter enforcement. Several speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the recent role of law enforcement agencies, including their conduct toward media outlets, and called for professionalism and political neutrality. EWA President Professor Dr Md Shariful Alam said ensuring compliance with the electoral code of conduct is the Election Commission’s primary responsibility. “It is evident that the Election Commission is failing in this regard,” he said, adding that without a firm and impartial stance from the Commission, field administration and law enforcement agencies will not remain politically neutral. He said there is still time for the Election Commission to take a strong and neutral position and fulfil its constitutional duties.  

BNP candidate MA Hannan and Jamaat e Islami's Aminul Islam have been fined for breaching the election code of conduct in the Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar) constituency. The fines were imposed on Saturday afternoon following a mobile court operation conducted by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the Brahmanbaria District Administration, NM Kaiser. Executive Magistrate Kaiser said both candidates violated the election code of conduct during their campaign activities. The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate constructed arches around an election rally, used colorful banners, and displayed the party symbol larger than the permitted size. Meanwhile, the BNP candidate used colorful festoons in violation of the code. The mobile court fined the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Tk 30,000 and the BNP candidate Tk 20,000 for the violations. The candidates also removed the colorful banners, festoons, and arches immediately following the mobile court’s order, NM Kaiser added.