EC
Jasad wants monitoring of foreign embassies' role in elections
President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) Hasanul Haq Inu on Sunday asked the Election Commission (EC) to be careful not to allow unwanted snooping of foreign diplomats.
The party gave this suggestion after participating in a dialogue organized by the EC at its conference room of the election building.
Jasad President Hasanul Haq said EC is not an institution of arbitration.
"Do not engage in any arbitration or political debate. We are shocked by the work of the diplomats. Diplomats in Bangladesh give unsolicited advice. This is also the failure of our political parties. Political parties also protested at embassies here. It is not right to try to bring diplomats into the role of arbitrators on petty issues," he added.
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He also said that some people are boycotting the election dialogue. There are crises everywhere in the world. It is being corrected through continuous experience.
"So this complaint is going from America to Japan. This is nothing new. But one thing everyone follows, under no circumstances should the election be thwarted on time except by constitutional means," he also said.
He added that the EC should have a strong position to hold elections at the right time and will not make any concessions here.
The former information minister said that those who are proposing to change the government before the election, they are actually proposing to subvert the constitutional clause. They are practically proposing to establish an unsual government.
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"The political partners of those who are making these proposals, we see, are militant, known war criminals. So, behind the shadow of an unusual government, there is a process of bringing in a virtually sectarian Taliban government. It is a terrible thing for the country," he warned.
He said, one thing is said that a flat place will be needed. It seeks the opportunity to bring the sentenced convicts to the elections. In the name of level playing field there will be no level playing field outside the ethics of democracy and law.
"So democracy has boundaries. There will be no criminals in it and no militant groups. Everyone should be careful in this place," he also said.
Hasanul Haque Inu said the issue of supporting signatures of 1 percent voters of independent candidates needs to be considered as the constitution says that anyone can get nomination if he is qualified. So how the provision got into the People's Representation Order, it is our mistake.
"You will consider it. If one fulfills the conditions, he can be a candidate. Think about how and what to do to exercise executive power," he said.
In the dialogue, party general Shirin Akhtar MP presented the written proposal.
EC praising merits of EVMs with ‘ulterior motive’: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has been repeatedly highlighting the merits of EVMs with an ‘ulterior motive’ when most political parties are against its use in the national election.
“During the talks with the Election Commission, around 80 percent of the political parties expressed their opinions against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). But the EC is repeatedly holding meetings and describing the merits of the EVMs tactfully,” he said.
GM, Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the EC should understand that the country’s people will not accept any rigged elections.
He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with the party presidium members and MPs at the Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office auditorium.
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The Jatiya Party chief said when different countries of the world are abandoning the EVMs then the EC in Bangladesh starts praising the machines. “This is causing confusion in public mind. “
He said many voters in the country cast their votes seeing the election symbol during the election as they cannot read the name of the candidates.
In such a reality, GM Quader said the common people think there’s an evil intention behind the EC’s efforts to hold elections using the EVMs.
He also said some political leaders feel talking about fair elections means hurling abuses at them. “In fact, we need to change our political culture.”
The Jatiya Party chief said the people of the country no longer want any flawed and name-only elections. “They want to elect the representatives of their choice through fair elections.”
He alleged that Awami League and BNP have initiated the politics of vengeance instead of doing politics in the interests of people of the country since Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad handed over power in 1990.
GM Quader also said the two parties made the election a matter of violence though once it was like a festival to people. “So now the election is like a war. The party which will be defeated in the national election can be wiped out. It’ll be difficult to protect the existence of the defeated party. It can’t be a political culture.”
EC in the soup as major parties differ: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Monday said the commission is facing a dilemma because of contrasting stances of the major political parties over the next parliamentary polls.
"I am in difficulty in regard to the election. One big party is saying that it will not participate. Another party is saying that there will be elections. There is a dilemma in the political environment," he said.
He made this comment at a dialogue with the Bangladesh Islamic Front at Nirbachan Karjalay.
He once again vowed to hold free and peaceful elections by any means. If necessary, he said, he will leave the responsibility and make the way easier.
"We want to have an acceptable election and the formation of a beautiful parliament and government. What BNP is demanding, they have to gain it through dialogue and movement. Because the constitution is involved in it," he added
The CEC said there should be a representative government. There is no other choice. If the election is not a genuine election, “we will never go for staging a drama in the name of vote.”
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"We have no affection or dislike (for any party). We have only one job: People should be allowed to exercise their right to vote. We will definitely try to take legal action if voters are prevented from voting in villages, towns and cities," he warned.
Habibul said that the Election Commission has a lot of powers. In the past it may not have been able to fully exercise that power for some reasons. “But we will try to implement it.”
The process of bringing various ministries under the EC during elections is complex. There are constitutional issues involved. All political parties can have a dialogue on this among themselves, he explained.
He said that if BNP can achieve what it wants after reaching agreement with Awami League, then the EC cannot have any objection.
"We want acceptable elections. We want to create favorable environment and level playing field,” he added.
An 11-member delegation led by Chairman of Bangladesh Islami Front Allama Mohammad Abdul Mannan participated in the dialogue with the EC.
The Election Commissioners and senior officers also participated in it.
Islami Front’s general secretary MA Matin presented nine written proposals to the EC.
This includes bringing the local government, public administration, home, defense and finance ministries under the Election Commission in a constitutional manner during elections.
Party General Secretary MA Matin said that caretaker government system can never be a permanent system. An independent EC can offer the nation free and fair elections. However, questions have been raised about the powers of the EC.
EC begins talks with political parties
The Election Commission (EC) Sunday has started its dialogue with the registered political parties ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
The Nationalist Democratic Movement, Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Bangladesh Congress and Bangladesh Muslim League joined the talks Sunday as part of a dialogue series.
The EC commissioners and secretary also joined the meeting.
The commission will continue the dialogues till July 31, the EC officials said.
The Bangladesh Islamic Front, Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijot, Khilafat Majlish and Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party are scheduled to join the dialogue Monday.
The commission invited the Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Islamic Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal to talks Tuesday.
The EC is scheduled to sit with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ganatantri Party and Bangladesh National Awami Party Wednesday.
However, the BNP already said it would not join the talks.
The EC will have talks with the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Gano Front the next day.
The Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Jatiya Party (JP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Islamic Front Bangladesh are scheduled to join the EC dialogue on July 24 and the Bangladesh Muslim League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Liberal Democratic Party on July 25.
Also, the commission invited the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and National People's Party to its dialogue on July 26.
The Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Zaker Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League were invited to talks on July 27.
The commission is also scheduled to hold dialogues with the Gano Forum, Bangladesh National Awami Party and Communist Party of Bangladesh on July 28.
The Awami League and Jatiya Party are scheduled to hold talks with the EC on July 31.
Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it to talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission's invitations while 11 parties, including the BNP, rejected it.
Elections: Heads of Mission from OECD countries meet CEC
Heads of Mission representing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries had a “constructive meeting” with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Sunday and discussed the preparations of the next parliamentary polls.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson who attended the meeting said fair and transparent elections are vital for democracy.
“The UK and likeminded partners will continue to encourage a free and participatory process,” Dickson tweeted after the meeting.
The OECD is a group of countries including the United States, Canada, Turkey, Germany and France which aims to assist economic development, raise living standards and promote growth in world trade.
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European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley also attended the meeting. “Wide-ranging exchange today between heads of mission from OECD countries and the Bangladesh Election Commission on preparations for the December 2023 parliamentary polls,” he tweeted.
JaPa voices against EVM use in meeting with EC
The Jatiya Party (JPA), the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, does not want the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in parliamentary elections.
The party expressed their stand in their statement on Sunday taking part in a meeting of the Election Commission (EC) on EVM verification.
After the meeting, Japa secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu told reporters that a meeting of their presidium members on Sunday morning had decided that they will support the existing system of electoral process and they see no need to use EVM.
Chunnu said, "We have also presented this opinion to the EC in the meeting."
Also read: EC to sit with political parties in three phases regarding EVM
Asked whether he would boycott the polls if EVMs were used despite their views, he said "We will take the decision then."
The Election Commission has called 39 political parties for continuous discussions to verify the EVM. On Sunday, the EC invited 13 parties.
The remaining 26 parties will join in two phases on June 21 and June 28 for EVM verification.
In the first phase, the 13 political parties that were invited to the dialogue with the EC today are Jatiya Party (Ershad), the main opposition in the National Parliament, Jatiya Party-JP, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh National Awami Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Jaker Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Gano Forum, Gano Front, Bangladeshh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Biplabi Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote.
In the second phase set for June 21, the invited political parties are Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal JSD, Bangladesh Khilafat Movement, National People's Party-NPP, Jamiyat-e-Ulamaye Islam, Bangladesh, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Islamic Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islamic Front, Khilafat Majlis and Bangladesh Muslim League-BML.
Also read: Election using EVMs won’t be acceptable: Jatiya Party
In the last phase, the 13 parties invited on June 28 are ruling Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Communist Party of Bangladesh-ML, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Ganatantri Party, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Biplabi Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote.
Opinions about EVMs have already been taken in meetings with the best technologists in the country. They said after seeing the EVM, this machine is reliable.
The Election Commission wants to use EVM on a large scale in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections. However, the company has decided to take everyone's opinion before that.
The EC currently has 1 lakh 54 thousand EVMs, with which voting can be done in maximum 100 seats while three hundred more machines are needed to use this voting machine in 300 seats.
Opposition MPs come down hard on EC, police
Opposition lawmakers in Parliament Monday harshly criticised the law enforcement agencies for their engagement in various irregularities and offenses.
They made the criticism while placing their cut motions over additional allocation of Tk 178 crore against the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry in the supplementary budget for 2021-22 fiscal.
BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid said there are allegations against police regarding extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and human rights violations. “These allegations are not untrue,” he said.
He said the institution that is named the Election Commission should be abolished. “Hand it over to the police. What is its necessity? There is no need for the Election Commission until Vision 2041 (remains unimplemented).”
Jatiya Party MP Shameem Haider Patwary said today it is essential to make police liable. If they had been made liable internally, the sanction would not come on them from outside the country, he said.
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“We need to have a special commission for police today and formation of an all-party special committee on human rights in this parliament in this regard,” he said.
The special committee would investigate any allegation made by the people and submit reports and make the proper persons liable, said the JP lawmaker.
“A culture of no-liability and a culture of impunity have started prevailing in the country,” said Shameem.
BNP MP Rumeen Farhana said the people are still being harassed by police. “Police is no longer a force of the state rather it has turned into a complete political force …. Torture in police custody has become a regular matter,” she said.
Ganoforum lawmaker Mukabbir Khan said the trend of engagement of police members --from constable to high officers- in criminal activities has increased as those who commit offenses are not brought to justice properly and they are not getting proper punishment.
“The whole police department comes under question due to their offenses. The matters should be taken care of,” he said.
In reply to their criticism, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque on behalf of the Home Minister said the police are performing their duties very efficiently under the present government.
He said many police officers lose their jobs due to irregularities and many ones have faced trial and been punished for their excesses.
JP MP Rowshan Ara Mannan, BNP MP Md. Mosharof Hosen and Independent MP Rezaul Karim Bablu also placed their cut motions against the additional allocation for the Public Security Division.
EC announces polls schedule for 3 municipalities
Election will be held in three municipalities –Panchbibi and Khetlal in Joypurhat, and Dohar in Dhaka—on July 27 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Also read: EC suspends Eochia UP election in Ctg
The Election Commission on Monday announced the polls schedule for the three local bodies by issuing a notification.
Also read: EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg
As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is June 28, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is June 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 7.
EC suspends Eochia UP election in Ctg
The Election Commission has suspended the election of Eochia Union Parishad in Satkania upazila in Chattogram.
Also read: EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg
In a press release on Sunday the commission said a decision has been made to suspend the announcement of the election schedule of Eochia UP slated for June 15 until further notice.
The commission asked to issue public notice and take systematic actions according to the decision to the concerned authorities.
EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg
The Election Commission has suspended the election of Chambal Union Parishad at Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram over violation of election regulations by a chairman candidate.
In a press release on Sunday the commission said the election slated for June 15 has been suspended until further notice.
According to the notice, chairman candidate of Chambal UP Mujibul Haque Chowdhury has announced that he will hire men to help people for pressing the EVM button and threatened to snatch win in the election using EVM as per his wish.
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He also said he would have collected all the votes by night if there was no EVM which has been published in different newspaper and television reports. Local Administration and Election Officer found proof of the statement later through a probe.
“Such actions are criminal offence according to the Union Council (Election Behaviour) Rules, 2016 and The Local Government (Union Parishads) Rules ,2010. The commission directs to file a case against the Chambal UP chairman candidate,” said the EC.
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