United News of Bangladesh

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, staged a sit-in for a second day on Monday in front of Nirbachan Bhaban, pressing a three-point demand, including allegations of a ‘biased and controversial’ role by the Election Commission ahead of the national election. Witnesses said nearly 100 JCD leaders and activists took to the streets around 12:00 pm outside Nirbachan Bhaban, chanting slogans such as ‘Dalali ar koris na’ and ‘Dalali na, rajpath—rajpath’. Members of law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, Navy and Ansar, were deployed in and around the EC premises. Ganesh Chandra Roy, president of the Dhaka University unit of JCD, said the election is scheduled for February 12 and that the organisation had extended cooperation to ensure a fair vote, but alleged that a vested quarter was conspiring to influence the election by transferring voters from one area to another in an attempt to secure victory. “I will not name that group as I do not want to create hype. They are trying to commit irregularities by using some people inside the Election Commission,” he added. Another JCD leader claimed that a particular party had earlier captured student union elections at Dhaka University, Rajshahi University and other universities through ‘election’. Read More: Chhatra Dal leader attacked outside Narsingdi court They want to apply the same strategy in the upcoming national election. This conspiracy will not be allowed to succeed, he said. Earlier on Sunday, JCD activists staged a sit-in programme in front of Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area, protesting the EC’s role. Later, a five-member delegation led by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib held a meeting with the concerned authorities at the EC office and placed their three-point demands.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (October 31, 2023) hoped that all sides going forward will engage in a “dialogue” without preconditions to de-escalate tensions and find a path forward to free, fair and peaceful elections. “Political violence by any side has no place in democratic elections,” he said after his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at the EC office. US Ambassador Haas also urged to avoid any action that undermines the democratic election process, including the use of violence, preventing people from exercising their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and internet access – calling to question the ability to conduct free and fair elections. Read more: US says killing of a police officer and a political activist, burning a hospital and buses are unacceptable Thanking the CEC for his time, the US ambassador said during their meeting, he urged for transparency and accountability in the Election Commission’s unique constitutional role in essential work towards organizing elections. He said that free and fair elections, as they all know, happen over weeks and months before the actual day votes are cast. US Ambassador Haas said voters, political parties, government, security forces, civil society, media and the Election Commission all are responsible regarding that. Read more: CEC to meet president on Nov 5 regarding announcement of nat’l election schedule