Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday asked deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to be aware of their duties to deal with any intimidation in the next general elections expected to be held late next year or in the beginning of 2024. “If any illegal interferences in the election are not handled with an iron hand, that’s not an election, that’s a farce,” he said. Read: EC to sit with DCs, SPs ahead of election “This could have a serious negative impact on the next election. You must be accountable. So, in the future, you will exercise all the necessary powers to successfully conduct each election,” he said. His statement came when the Election Commission held a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police from across the country on Saturday to discuss issues related to next general elections. The meeting was crucial to build up momentum ahead of the next national elections amid threats by BNP and its allies that they will not take part in the elections under a partisan government. But the government has been arguing that there is no such provision in the constitution of returning to a controversial caretaker government system to oversee the elections. The previous caretaker government system was nullified through the 15th amendment to the constitution in 2011 after the Supreme Court struck down the 13th amendment that had introduced the system in 1996. On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all political parties to join the national elections. Saturday’s meeting was held at the auditorium of the Election Commission in the capital city, Dhaka. The CEC in the meeting said that a stricter stand by the DCs and the SPs would reinforce the people’s interest and trust in the electoral process, encouraging them to exercise their voting rights. Next elections to local government bodies also came up in the discussion. The CEC reminded the DCs and SPs of avoiding their own political ideologies when they play their role. “You are public servants,” he said. Read EVMs in 150 constituencies: EC finalises Tk 8,711cr project "You will have to be neutral in your position. You must follow your duty according to the laws of the land. This is the expectation of the people. You have to earn trust by fulfilling the expectations of the people with the application of all rules and regulations," he added. The CEC also said it is not the issue of the Election Commission to resolve disputes among bickering political parties. “The EC cannot interfere in the political decisions as the constitution, laws and rules have set our scope of work, power and responsibilities. Political problems should be settled politically,” he said. He also said the DCs and SPs must understand the importance of forming new national government and local government bodies through elections in a democratic system. He said that the EC has proof that it is easier to control violence, rigging in polls by using Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). “We have decided to use EVMs in not more than 150 seats but we will have preparation to hold elections through ballot paper in all seats if needed,” said CEC. In the 12th National Parliamentary Election, votes will be cast in 42-45,000 centres simultaneously in one day which is not an easy task but not impossible, he added. Other election commissioners and top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Additional IGP attended the meeting.

The Election Commission on Saturday will hold a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all 64 districts ahead of the Zilla Parishad election and the next general election. Zilla Parishad election will be held on October 17 while people will cast their vote in the national election to be held in December 2023 or January 2024. The meeting will be held on Saturday  at the Election Commission auditorium, said an EC circular signed by its deputy secretary Atiar Rahman. Read: Next Election Commission: 322 names proposed to search committee published EC joint secretary SM Asaduzzaman said that chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal shall preside over the meeting while other commissioners will also attend the meeting. The Commission secretariat asked all DCs and SPs of the country to attend the meeting in their circular. The Commission has already unveiled its action plan for holding the 12th parliamentary polls.

Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Chattogram highway remained suspended for five hours since Tuesday noon as several hundred residents of Jangal Salimpur in Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram blocked the highway protesting  an eviction drive by the local administration. The residents gathered at Bangla Bazar in Fouzdarhat area of the highway around 12:30 pm, halting vehicular movement on the busy highway. The local administration snapped the electricity and water connections at Jangal Salimpur to evict the illegal occupants. Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahadat Hossain, said “The residents of Jangal Salimpur blocked the highway to press home their several demands including the eviction drive. Meanwhile, the protesters hurled brick chips towards police when they lobbed tear gas shells and charged baton to disperse them. Read: Tea workers return to strike for Tk 300 wage; block Dhaka-Sylhet highway A chase and counter-chase took place during the melee. The vehicular movement on the highway returned to normal around 5:30 pm. A 10-kilometer tailback was created on the highway due to the blockade.  Earlier in the day, police foiled their bid to block Bayezid-Fouzdathat road in the morning. Deputy commissioner Mohammad Maminur Rahman, said the government has recently taken an initiative to rehabilitate 15,000 residents in the area and construct a number of government structures. The government also took a plan to relocate the Chattogram Central Jail to Salimpur khas land, construct sports village, cricket stadium, iconic mosque, eco parks and other establishments in the area. To make the plan a success, the local administration has been conducting an eviction drive for the last one month.

As Covid-19 cases continue to surge in Chuadanga, the local administration has imposed lockdown in seven villages of Karpashdanga union to break the chain of corona transmission.   Besides, Covid-19 testing centres have been set up in these worst-hit villages bordering India, health officials said.   The local administration of Karpashdanga union in Damurhuda upazila announced the lockdown restrictions on Wednesday noon. The entry points to these villages have been sealed, according to officials.   The villages are Shibnagar, Harirampur, Jahajpota, Munshipur, Kutubpur, Pirpurkulla and Hudapara. Residents of these villages have been asked to stay indoors.   Also read: 8 Indian variant cases identified in Jashore  

The local administration has extended the ongoing lockdown in Chapainawabganj for another weak due to the worsening Covid-19 situation. The restriction will remain in force from June 1 to June 7, said Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Manjurul Hafiz at a press briefing at his office on Monday noon. Read: Variation between PCR and antigen test positivity rates hides true situation of Covid-19 in Chapainawabganj Superintendent of Chapainawabganj Police AHM Abdur Rakib, Civil Surgeon Dr Zahid Nazrul Chowdhury, Additional deputy commissioner Zakiul Islam were present there. All kinds of vehicles will stay off the road during the lockdown while vehicles used for providing emergency services including ambulance, goods-laden vehicles, patient carrying vehicles will be allowed to move on roads. No vehicles from Rajshahi-Naogaon will be allowed to enter or exit the district. All shops and weekly haats to remain shut during the shutdown. Grocery shops, kitchen markets and pharmacies will remain open. Read: Week-long lockdown to contain Covid in Chapainawabganj People will not be allowed to come out of home except  emergencies. Besides, mangoes can be sold or purchased in different designated places. Mangoes can be carried by trucks and the transportation of mangoes can be operated through courier services. The upazila administration will take necessary steps in this regard. Everyone should wear mask and the industries will operate their services following health protocols. However, the respective industries must take measures to carry their employees in their own vehicles. The offices, staffers, including members of law enforcement agencies, agricultural products (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, machinaris), crops, food laden vehicles, health services, health workers involved in mass inoculation, power, water, gas, fire services, port activities, media (print and electronic media), private security mangement, telephone, and postal services will remain out of the purview of the restriction. Read:PM launches special mango train on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route Hotels and restaurants can operate with takeaway/online services and only 20 people will be allowed to offer prayer at mosques during Juma prayer and others prayer. On May 24, the authorities in Chapainawabganj imposed a week-long lockdown to break the chain of Covid transmission.  

Mobile courts in separate drives realized Tk 2.37 lakh in fine from 248 people for not using mask in the last eight days until Tuesday.

Local administration has decided to put the whole district under lockdown for  an indefinite period from Monday morning, to prevent transmission of coronavirus.   Deputy Commissioner Mohamamd Shafiul Arif, said the decision was taken on Sunday at a meeting held at the Circuit House.   The local administration took the decision amid concern over the growing  number of coronavirus cases in the district.   No one will be allowed to enter or exit the district and all kinds of shops except  pharmacies and kitchen markets  will remain shut. However, emergency services  will remain out of the purview of the restriction.   Legal action will be taken against those who will violate the  restriction s, he added.

Local administration  put the Chatmohor upazila here  under lockdown as a man was diagnosed with coronavirus for the first time in the district on Thursday.   Sarkar Mohamamd Raihan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer announced the decision  around 11 pm.   A resident  of the upazila, who recently came from Narayanganj district, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday and he was sent to home quarantine, he said.   The local administration took the decision to prevent spread of coronavirus, he said.  

Local administration has put three houses at Shiali village in Dhunat upazila under lockdown after a man with coronavirus symptoms was admitted to the isolation unit of Mohammad Ali Hospital.   The local administration put the three houses under lockdown on Thursday night as safety measure, said Razia Sultana, Upazila Nirbahi Officer adding that food will be supplied to the houses.

The Sitakunda Upazila administration distributed food supplies among the poor and destitute on Saturday as the government asks people to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.