Level playing field will be ensured in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election slated for June 12, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday. “All will get equal opportunities and the election will be free and fair. There will be no partisan election. We are using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the voting which has left no chance to change the election results. No one will be allowed to obstruct voters and curtail people’s rights to franchise,” he said. The CEC came up with the remarks while speaking at a view-exchange meeting over the KCC election at the auditorium of Khulna Shilpakala Academy. The election will be monitored through CCTV from the central office, he said. Expressing satisfaction over the Gazipur City Corporation election, the CEC said “We are working round the clock to ensure free and fair election and we’ll gift a fair election in Khulna.” He also urged all to abide by the electoral code of conduct. Kazi Habibul said local administration will take strict action against those who will violate the electoral code of conduct.    

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the people have no interest in the city polls being held under the Election Commission which is regulated by the government. Speaking at a discussion programme, he also feared that the upcoming elections to the five city corporations will be stage-managed even though BNP is not fielding any candidate. Also Read: Sheikh Hasina's resignation is the only demand: Mirza Fakhrul “They (govt) have completely destroyed the election system by using the state machinery. The Election Commission is under the control of the government. People are not interested in the election taking place in the country,” the BNP leader said. He said opposition parties are not fielding candidates in most of the city corporation elections due to the “collapsed’ election system. ”Arif (Ariful Haque Chowdhury) is a very popular two-time mayor in Sylhet and the people of Sylhet want him to see as mayor again. In a public meeting, Arif yesterday (Saturday) said this election will never be accepted as the government has made a blueprint. So, there is no point in going to this election as it will be meaningless,” Fakhrul said. Also Read: 'Your time is up': Fakhrul to govt  He said the people of Sylhet City shed tears as their beloved leader decided against participating in the election.  “He (Arif) clearly said this election will be meaningless and no election will be fair under this government.” A faction of the Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the party founder Shafiul Alam Pradhan’s sixth death anniversary. Fakhrul said all the authoritarian and fascistic regimes destroy the election system and use the stage-managed voting a tool to hang onto power. “So, We would like to say it very clearly that there will be no free and fair elections if the current government remains in power…the election must be held under an impartial caretaker government,” he said. Also Read: Fakhrul warns govt of 'political storm' if caretaker demand remains unmet  Fakhrul said the government has taken the election system to such a situation that ruling the party’s alliance partner and Workers Party President, Rashed Khan Menon, said a few days back that they do not want ‘planned’ elections. “The message is very clear that Awami League holds planned elections and he (Menon) does not want such polls. Another state minister said that the ministers create syndicates here and they increase the prices of commodities,” the BNP leader observed. Also Read: EC doesn’t have capacity to hold fair elections: Fakhrul Referring to a World Bank report, he said Bangladesh is the champion of default loans. “Bangladesh has even surpassed Sri Lanka in this regard.” The BNP leader said the number of loan defaulters is increasing in the country as the ruling party leaders, including the ministers, do not repay after borrowing crores of taka. Fakhrul also warned the BNP rank and file not to be confused by different ‘evil games’ by the government ahead of the national election. “We must remain united to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, ensure the return of our leader Tarique Rahman to the country, restore democracy, people’s voting rights and establish equality…the movement has already begun. We all have to take to the streets with all strengths to take it a final stage for establishing a caretaker government ousting the current regime,” he said.    

Dismissing all speculations about the party’s subtle strategy to take part in city polls, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday categorically said their party is not joining the upcoming elections to five city corporations in any way. “We have made it very clear that we are not going for any kind of local government elections. Especially in the city corporation polls, our party won’t vie for any post of mayor or commissioner." He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman together with the leaders of the newly formed Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal committee. Fakhrul said Awami League wants to establish a one-party Baksal rule by destroying democracy as the party does not believe in elections and democracy. Also Read: Fakhrul sees 'sadness, suffering' overshadowing Eid celebrations He alleged that the ruling party made the national election in 2014 a complete farce by depriving people of their right to franchise. “Similarly, in 2018, they usurped power by stuffing ballots the night before the election day and people didn't participate in that polls either," the BNP leader observed. Even, he said people are not participating in the local government elections under the current government. “Only 14% of people went to vote in the recent by-polls polls (in Chattogram). So people understand and the entire world understands that there will never be any fair election if this regime stays in power.” Also Read: Convicting , jailing popular BNP leaders before next polls is government’s master plan : Fakhrul The BNP leader said people will also not participate in the next national election if it is held under the Awami League government. He said the Prime Minister is talking about fair elections after going abroad to mislead people and repair her government’s dented image. "But the country’s people have now woken up. We believe that the people will defeat this regime through a fierce movement and establish a truly democratic system in the country,” Fakhrul said. Earlier on April 20 last, BNP announced a full-fledged 213-member committee of the party’s voluntary wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal SM Zilani and Rajib Ahsan were made the president and the general secretary respectively of the committee.      

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that  denocracy in Bangladesh is practiced  only by her pary Awami League which has a history of holding free elections. “Awami League practices the democratic system and fair democratic practices prevail during Awami League regime,” she said. The prime minister, now on a four-day official visit to Japan, said this while speaking at a civic reception at Westin Hotel here. She said all elections under the Awami League regime were held fairly. In this connection, Hasina said the President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid made history by completing his two terms peacefully. “This has been the first time in the history of the country where the outgoing president and the new president could complete all related procedure peacefully. This is a democratic process,” she said. The Awami League chief said that former military dictator Ziaur Rahman destroyed the election process during his military regime. The process continued by another military ruler HM Ershad and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. She mentioned that there was no political stability in 29 years out of 50 years of Bangladesh after the assassinations of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. “There was no democratic process and there was no democratic rule of law in those days” she stated. She slammed those who fail to see democracy and development in the country. Hasina said that opposition BNP's history is so tarnished that it has no face to take part in elections. She said that in 2008 election BNP-Jamaat alliance got only 30 seats while AL-led grand alliance bagged all other seats. “For that reason they (BNP-Jamaat) did not take part in 2014 election,” she said. Referring the arson terrorism by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013-15, she said that they killed at least 500 people and destroyed many government and private establishments. “Now how could they participate in the election and seek votes from the people?,” she questioned. She urged all to remain alert so the country remain s free from militancy, terrorism and drugs. The PM said there are some people who do not see democracy in the country and they have been favouring those who violated human rights and concealed bodies after killing people. She said they could not even file a case after the assassination of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with her mother and brothers as the killers were indemnified from charges and trial. “The killers had got a gift instead of punishment,” she said. The prime minister said two killers of Bangabandhu are now staying in the USA and Canada, adding that they have repeatedly requested the governments of the two countries to send back the killers to Bangladesh. “But, they do not pay heed to the request,” she said. Pointing at the USA, she said, “Giving killers (of Bangabandhu) shelters in their own country, they are talking of humanity in Bangladesh.” Hasina said her government has done everything possible to stop the culture of impunity in Bangladesh. She called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in Bangladesh saying that they have taken measures for attracting foreign investments to the country. Referring to establishing 100 economic zones across the country, she said those who have interest can invest in the economic zones. She also suggested Bangladeshis also invest in Bangladesh as It will be better to invest with a Japanese partner. Referring to the suffering of the people across the globe due to global economic recession because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the prime minister said her government has taken every possible measure so that the citizens won't have to suffer at least for food. She asked all to bring every inch of land under cultivation as Bangladesh needs not depend on any country for food. The PM said her government has been working to bring every person under the housing scheme following the footprints of Bangabandhu to make sure that none will remain homeless and landless across the country. “No one in the country will remain homeless and landless in the country,” she said. Spelling out her government’s measures for the overall development of Bangladesh, the premier said Bangladesh has completely changed in the last 14 years in terms of socio-economic uplift. The PM vowed to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen was present on the dais while Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed gave welcome address at the function.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday warned that this time their party will resist any attempt to hold the next national election under a partisan government. “They (govt) want to hold the polls (national election) as before. They’ll again rig and steal votes like before. But we’ll stand up and resist it. We must do it for the sake of our existence and rights and to protect Bangladesh and its people,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks in a brief rally on the premises of Nawabganj Shaheed Minra before the start of a march towards Boxanagar intersection by Dhaka District unit BNP. Fakhrul said injustice like depriving people of their voting rights can no longer be tolerated. “We’re repeatedly being attacked and beaten up. We’re not willing to be beaten anymore." He said the country’s people will be able to cast their votes freely if the election is held under a neutral government. “But it doesn’t happen now. They (AL) want to give their votes and also your votes. That's why people have started saying that if we had known before, we wouldn't have boarded your broken boat.” The BNP leader said their party will not have any objection if Awami League comes to power again with people’s votes through a credible election under a neutral government. He called upon the government to quit and dissolve the parliament and arrange the election under a non-party caretaker government by accepting BNP’s 10-point demand.   Read more: AL, its govt involved in BDR carnage: Fakhrul The BNP leader said their party together with like-minded opposition parties has launched a simultaneous movement to save the country and its people from the misrule of the Awami League government. He urged young people to come forward and make this movement a success.  “All the changes that have taken place in Bangladesh, from the Language Movement to the movement in the 90s and the Liberation War, everything has been done by the young people.” Fakhrul said they will establish a government of people by defeating the current ‘monstrous’ regime through a mass upsurge. The BNP leader alleged that the current government has destroyed the economy of the country through unbridled plundering and theft. “They (AL leaders) are getting rich suddenly and making a lot of money by indulging in corruption. The Awami League leaders who had no sandals on their feet, now ride expensive cars and build big houses by sucking the blood and stealing the money from the country’s people.” He also said the government is implementing mega projects in the name of devolvement to plunder public money. "But development is not benefiting common people.  If this government comes again, this country will not exist, the nation will not exist.” Later, several thousand leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies took out a silent procession from the Shaheed Minar that ended at the Boxanagar intersection after parading nearly a two-kilometer stretch of the road. Earlier on Saturday, the party observed a similar programme in all districts, except Dhaka, to press home their party’s 10-point demand.

PM-Chollet, LdNext national polls will be free and fair: PM Hasina tells US official Eds: Updates with details Dhaka, Feb 15 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the next parliamentary election will be fair and free as she is committed to democracy and the Election Commission is completely independent. “The next election will be fair and free. I fought for democracy throughout my life,” she said. Read More: Clashes, obstruction by ruling party mark BNP’s nationwide march programme The premier said this when a US delegation, led by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet, paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting. Hasina said if the people vote for Awami League in the next general election, her party will take the charge of governing the country. “I never want to come to power through vote-rigging,” she was quoted as saying. Read More: Govt is preparing to hold a free, fair election: PM The PM said she always struggled for the people’s rights to food and vote. She said the first-ever EC’s reconstitution law was passed in parliament and then a neutral Election Commission was constituted on the basis of the law. She said the EC is completely independent. It has administrative and financial independence, she added. Bangladesh is due to elect its next parliament by end of this year or first week of January next year. Read More: Next general election to be held first week of 2024: PM Hasina announces at Cox’s Bazar rally The last parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018. The prime minister said no political parties in the country other than Awami League have bases at the grassroots level. Opposition BNP and Jatiya Party were born in the cantonments, she noted. She said AL has been in power only for 19 years in the 51-year history of the country’s independence. The anti-Awami League forces were in power for 29 years and there was no democratic polity during their regimes. Focusing on the development of Bangladesh in different socio-economic indexes, she said the transformation of the country has become visible in the last 14 years during her government. It has been possible due to the continued democratic practice and stability in the country, she added. Read More: EC to purchase 700mt paper from Karnaphuli Mills ahead of national election Nazrul said the Russia-Ukraine war and Rohingya issues also came up for the discussion in the meeting. PM Hasina tells the US delegation that the world should stop this war right now as it has caused high inflation and commodity prices throughout the globe. “A war never can bring any benefit for the human kind,” she said. Noting that the USA is the most powerful country, she said it can stop the war anytime. The disputes can be settled through negotiation, she said. Read more: ‘Bir Nibash’: PM gives away keys to 5000 houses for disadvantaged freedom fighters About Rohingyas, the PM said the displaced Myanmar nationals have become a big burden for Bangladesh. The local communities in Cox’s Bazar are suffering and they have become minority due to the influx of such a huge number of Myanmar nationals there. She said the Rohingya peoples are being involved in different criminal activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, militancy and infightings. The premier said the displaced Myanmar nationals have been staying in Cox’s Bazar for five years and now it is difficult to keep them there as its natural environment and the livelihood of locals are at stake. She said her government arranged different facilities, including income generating programmes, to ensure better life of the Rohingya people on Bhashanchar island. Read More: EVMs to be used partially again in next JS election: EC She asked the world community to provide their assistance to Rohingya people on Bhashanchar. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasanchar, she said PM Hasina also asked the international community to try their best for speedy and amicable repatriation of the Rohingya refugees. to Myanmar, their homeland. Derek Chollet thanked the prime minister for giving shelter to the Rohingya people on humanitarian ground. Read More: CEC estimates 15 to 20 percent by-poll voter turnout in 6 JS seats left vacant by BNP He said they would try their best for the repatriation of the displaced people. However, the Counselor to the Secretary of State of the United States said the repatriation will be possible when a democratic government returns to power in Myanmar. He said some recent high-level visits of US officials are reflection of the importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries. This relation will grow further, Chollet added. He said there are potentials to deepen the bilateral relations, but there are some challenges here. Read More: EVM purchasing suspended, not cancelled: EC secretary Chollet arrived here on Tuesday for a 24-hour stay in Bangladesh. PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas were present.

Tarikat Federation chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari on Wednesday said that BNP and Jamaat would do subversive activities later this year to destabilise the country ahead of next general elections. Bashar said that while the country is moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina there is a conspiracy to destabilise the country by the BNP and its alliance Jamaat. He said that he has information that BNP and Jamaat will start killing again from next August.   “They want to take the country towards another direction in August, September, October and November. Killing, militancy will increase,  I am asking the government to be aware of this.” “No matter what conspiracies they do, the next election will be held as per the constitution,” he said. He made the statement while participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on President’s speech in Parliament. Bashar said that Hasina will return to power through next national elections. He said that he will also be elected as MP in the upcoming parliamentary elections.   “In the next election, the prime minister will be the prime minister again.  I will also be an MP from the Tarikat Federation, there is no (chance of any) mistake,” he said. Mentioning that the national election will be held in the first week of January next year, he said, "whether BNP comes or not, it does not matter at all.” He said that the election will be held under the leadership of the 14-party alliance leader Sheikh Hasina.  He called on all the pro-liberation forces to unite under the leadership of Hasina. Ruling party MP Kujendra Lal Tripura said that 50 to 60 percent of Khagrachari area has come under electrification. “Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board through the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is trying to light up the area with Tk 217 crore solar panels.  We want electricity in the areas where it is possible to reach.” Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman said that earlier Begum Para was in Canada.   “Now Begum para is being established in many countries of the world.  Not only politicians, but also government officials are buying houses abroad.”  Pir Fazlur said that many are buying 10-20 houses in Canada, Dubai.   “No action is taken against money laundering from the country.” He also raised questions about how the central bank monitors.   He said that the defaulted loan in the bank is Tk 1.5 lakh crore. “If you do the actual calculations, it will exceed Tk four lakh crore. The owner of one bank is taking loan from another bank.  Actions should be taken against them.”  The Jatiya Party MP said that everyone talks about development.   “But some leaders do not see development.  They visit their area occasionally.  They are leaders of Awami League, but want to be elected in the future.” Criticising the sluggish implementation of development projects and the increase in project cost, Pir Fazlur said that if the duration of the project increases, the cost also increases.   “Corruption is inextricably linked with it.”    

Criticising the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on Wednesday said no election or electoral process is perfect. Democracy is refined by practicing it, not by prescription from diplomats, he said apparently reacting to a joint statement issued by foreign missions yesterday. Read more: Ex-Ducsu VP Nur sued for making ‘derogatory comments’ about deputy minister Nowfel "Do foreign missions anywhere in this region or nearby comment on host country's internal electoral politics as they do in Bangladesh?" he tweeted mentioning that "partners not masters!"

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government has been preparing the scripts of new dramas to divert their pro-democracy movement  to a different direction. "We’ve seen many incidents, many ups and downs, and repressive acts, loss of lives, enforced disappearances, murders and false and fictitious cases. We’re seeing now that they (AL) are talking about arson violence. We’ve also seen a new drama of snatching militants from the court premises,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said the government has been writing the new drama scripts with an ‘evil’ political motive. “Their main target is to divert the movement that has begun with the core demands of people to a different direction.” Nagorik Oikya arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club. Fakhrul said the government has also started indulging in the old game of filing fictitious cases against BNP leaders and activists as part of its move to suppress the opposition. He said a case was filed by police against 150 people of BNP for hurling a crude bomb at Karwanbazar, but no one saw taking place such an incident there.  “The witnesses also know nothing about it as there was no sound of an explosion.” Read more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul The BNP leader said already 96 such cases have been filed against 4,500 identified and 10,000 unidentified accused belonging to BNP. "It means their old game has started. They’ll carry out the incidents and we’ll face the cases and thus we’ll remain busy going to the court and they’ll get their job done.” New strategies to manipulate polls He said the ruling party invents new strategies when the election time comes to cling to power in one way or another. Fakhrul said a strong movement is the only way to get rid of the current situation. "The only way to remove this regime is forging unity of the people and wage a movement for holding a credible and neutral election. “A new parliament and a new government will be formed through that election and thus a scope will be created to materialise the dreams of the people,” he hoped. The BNP leader said no fair and acceptable election can be held under the Awami League government. “Our political culture has reached a point where elections are not possible under a partisan government. So, the polls must be held under a caretaker government.” He called upon the political parties to get united to ensure the fall of ‘usurper’ the Awami League regime. Corruption institutionalised Fakhrul said the police, civil and all other administrations are busy flattering the ruling party. “The worst thing they have done by completely institutionalising corruption. There is no sector in which they have not committed corruption." He said the MPs distributed the allocated money of the Union Parishads among the ruling party chairmen. “Even, the Awami League leaders and workers get 10-20% share of money from different allowances such as old-age and widow ones. Zila Parishad has been set up and its main job is to plunder public money.” The BNP leader said Awami League has now become a huge burden for the nation. “If we cannot remove this burden from our shoulders, then we will all sink with them. We’re about to sink”. Dhaka rally surely at Nayapaltan Fakhrul alleged that the government still did not give their party permission to hold its final rally in Dhaka on December 10. “As we always hold our programmes in front of our party office, we will definitely hold the rally there on December 10.” Read more: No obstacle can stand in front of BNP now: Fakhrul He called upon the authorities concerned of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to give permission for the rally without buying time and making any trouble. “Take all steps so that we can smoothly arrange the programme.” The BNP leader said they want to hold the rally peacefully as they are carrying out their movement in a peaceful manner. “It’s now the responsibility of the government to cooperate with us in holding the rally peacefully.”  

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday urged the students to play the key role in establishing the polls-time neutral government and unseating the current regime through a strong movement.  “The challenge before us now is to oust this government. Our main demands will be the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and the installation of the non-party caretaker government to hold a credible election,” he said Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader recalled that Ayub Khan was ousted during the Pakistan period through a revolution of mass people and students.  “The students played a pivotal role in that movement. The same way students saved the people of Bangladesh by ensuring the fall of despotic ruler Ershad in 1990 under the leadership of Chhatra Dal.” Read more: Attack on JCD: BNP demands DU VC's removal “The current autocratic regime will not go away easily…So, Chhatra Dal has to play the key role in restoring democracy and establishing the caretaker government by overthrowing this dictatorial Awami League government as they did during the anti-Ershad movement,” he said. Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) arranged the programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking what BNP calls ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975. Though the rally was scheduled to begin at 2pm, thousands of JCD leaders and activists from different parts of the capital thronged Nayapaltan by noon, halting traffic on both sides of the road in front of the BNP office, causing immense suffering to commuters. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League government fears BNP and the party’s leaders as it has been staying in power by snatching the votes of people on the previous night of the election day in 2018. “Awami League has tried to run the country by giving lip services, but it has failed to do so. This party has annihilated democracy and brought the economy to the brink of destruction through plundering,” he observed. The BNP leader said Bangladesh is now facing a shortage of dollars due to the widespread corruption and looting by the current regime. “The people have got fed up with the current government’s misrule amid the growing price hikes in daily essentials and fuel and loadshedding of power. So, people of entire Bangladesh have got united to protect the country from the grasp of the current government,” he said. Mosharraf said people are participating in BNP’s rallies spontaneously braving all obstacles to register their protest against misrule. Read more: JCD leader’s death: BNP calls hartal in Bhola for Thursday  “No barrier could stop our rallies. We believe the way the people across the country have made all the rallies successful by defying all the barriers, the rally of Dhaka will be successful in the same way,” he said.