United News of Bangladesh

The National Consensus Commission (NCC) on Thursday decided in favour of forming a 100-member Upper House through the Proportional Representation (PR) system based on the percentage of votes, amid opposition from BNP and several like-minded parties. NCC Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz informed the decision in the 23rd session (last day) of the second-round dialogue between the NCC and the political parties at the city's Foreign Service Academy in the afternoon. Under the NCC’s proposal, the Upper House will not have the authority to enact any law on its own. However, all bills, except financial bills, must be introduced in both the Lower and Upper Houses. The Upper House will not be allowed to keep any bill pending permanently. If any bill remains pending for more than a month it will be considered approved by the Upper House. NCC’s last-day reform dialogue begins to reach decisions on several issues The Upper House will review and analyse the bills passed by the Lower House and must approve or reject them within a stipulated time. If approved, the bill will move to the President for assent. If rejected, the Upper House will return it to the Lower House with recommended amendments, which the Lower House may accept in full, in part, or reject entirely. The candidates with at least 10pc woman aspirants for the Upper House shall be announced alongside that of the national parliamentary election. Before the lunch break, BNP, Labour Party, NDM, the 12-Party Alliance and the Nationalist Alliance had voiced opposition to the Upper House under the PR system. After the break, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed voiced strong opposition to the proposal to elect 100 Upper House members. “BNP and several other parties and alliances disagree with both the PR system and the proposed powers of the Upper House. We will not endorse this unless our dissent is officially recorded,” he said. BNP leader Salahuddin questions mandatory consensus on NCC proposals Some leftist and Islamist parties, including CPB, BSD, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, and the Aam Janatar Dal, opposed the very idea of an Upper House, citing Bangladesh’s socio-economic realities. Despite lengthy discussions on several days, the matter of the Upper House formation was entrusted to the commission due to differences of opinion among the parties. The commission announced this decision on Thursday. Consensus Commission seeks final decision on NCC in today’s meeting: Ali Riaz  

The National Consensus Commission (NCC) aims to reach a final decision on the National Constitutional Council (NCC) during Wednesday’s meeting with political parties. At the start of the second day of the commission’s second phase of discussions, being held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Prof Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Ali Riaz made the remarks. “Today, we will discuss the District Coordination Council. During the preliminary stage of the Constitution Reform Commission’s discussions, several alternative proposals emerged. We expect to make significant progress on this issue today. I will be most pleased if we can come to a decision on the NCC today. That would greatly assist our work moving forward,” he said. Professor Riaz went on to say, “The most urgent matter is to reach a consensus through consultations with all stakeholders before making any decisions. Our time is limited. By mid-July, we must finalise a national charter, after which signatures from all parties will be required.” Consensus Commission resumes talks with parties; Jamaat joins second day He also urged the political leaders present to avoid repetition during discussions to ensure the meeting’s efficiency. The agenda for today’s meeting includes concluding previously unfinished discussions, the National Constitutional Council (NCC), and the presidential election. The National Consensus Commission announced that discussions will continue tomorrow (Thursday- June 19). Political parties such as BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Islami Andolan, Nagorik Oikko, Gan Adhikar Parishad, and Gan Songhoti Andolon, among others, joined the talks.

BNP on Tuesday expelled Taimur Alam Khandakar, defeated independent mayoral candidate in the recently held Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls, and its Narayanganj city unit general secretary ATM Kamal for violating party discipline. ATM Kamal was chief election agent of Taimur. Two separate letters were sent to  Taimur and Kamal from BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday night. BNP had a decision not to join any election under the current government, but Taimur contested the NCC polls ignoring the party’s stance. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General  Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told UNB that the action was taken against the duo for their involvement in anti-party activities and thus violating the party discipline.  He said said their party high command took the decision as per the party charter. READ: The defeat is of the government: Taimur “The decision will come into effect immediately,” the BNP leader said. He said both the BNP leaders were expelled from the party’s all posts, including the primary membership. READ: Ivy keeps her promise, visits Taimur with flowers and sweets Taimur was earlier relieved from the party chairperson Khaleda Zia's advisor post and also from the Narayanganj district convener post for contesting the NCC polls.

The Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election has been viewed as a fair one by the international community, said Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam. The Minister said this to the reporters after a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami on Tuesday. Read:NCC Polls: Ivy rewrites history with a hat-trick He said that Narayanganj city polls were witnessed by the entire nation, diplomats and the media. The diplomats had discussed among themselves that the election was free and fair. Though votes have been cast via Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) Awami League candidate won a huge number of votes.

The day after winning reelection for an unprecedented third term as mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), Selina Hayat Ivy on Monday expressed her firm resolution to work for the residents of Narayanganj till her last breath. “The victory belongs to Sheikh Hasina and to the people of Narayanganj. I will work for the residents of Narayanganj until death,” she said while talking to reporters at her residence Chunkha Kutir, named after her father Ali Ahmed Chunkha, in the Deobhog area of the city. “I have met the people as a commoner and I did not make any false promises as that is why the prime minister chose me. I dedicate the victory to the people of Narayanganj,” she said. Replying to a question Ivy said “I believe that the turnout would have been higher if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) did not slow down voters and I would have won bagging several thousand more votes. Many female voters failed to cast their votes.” READ: NCC Polls: Ivy rewrites history with a hat-trick She also pledged that she will work with all the residents of Narayanganj. “I vowed to you to work for you until the last day of my life,” she added. Answering another question, Ivy said “I will complete the pending work which I have taken up during my previous tenure.” She also expressed her gratitude to almighty Allah and to all. Talking about Taimur Alam Khandaker, she said “My uncle had provided help and I respect him and there are some similarities between our words as we have both talked for the welfare of Narayanganj.” In a query about Shamim Osman, Ivy said “Anyone can take part with me for the development of the city. I will accept the words of all and try to fulfill the expectation of the people. There will be challenges but I will deal with it as before.” Awami League mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy on Sunday created history as she won the high-voltage Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election for a record-breaking third time in a row. Ivy, also the country’s first female city mayor, secured a landslide victory by defeating independent mayoral candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker by a margin of nearly 70,000 votes. READ: ‘Boat will surely win,’ says Ivy  Ivy is the first city mayor to be elected thrice, that too consecutively. Ivy was previously elected as an independent candidate 2011 when she became the first woman to be elected as mayor in the country, before reelection as the ruling Awami League candidate in 2016.

Taimur Alam Khandaker, the defeated independent candidate in the Narayanganj City Corporation mayoral election, termed his defeat as the defeat of the government on Sunday. He made the remarks in a press briefing after his defeat was ascertained by the landslide victory of Awami League mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy on Sunday evening. Taimur said, “The defeat was of the government, not ours.” He said it all started from arresting his chief coordinator at Siddhirganj police station and after that everyday his supporters had been arrested. Also read: NCC Polls: Ivy rewrites history with a hat-trick “While filing case against them they were identified as Hefazat-e-Islam members even though many of them were Hindu by religion,” he said. Taimur claimed from Sunday morning eight people were arrested who were in his support including his Bandar upazila coordinator. Besides, numerous raids were conducted including at his chief polling agent’s house, he said. “In these circumstances it’s hard for an independent candidate to survive anyway.” Taimur said in many centres Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were defective and slow, due to which many voters couldn’t cast their vote and it only contributed more to his defeat. He said, “The game was government vs public and also government vs Taimur.” Ivy, the country’s first female city mayor, also became the first person ever to be elected thrice as mayor of any city in the country, as she secured a landslide victory by a margin of 69, 102 votes over Taimur. Also read: NCC polls: Voting underway amid tight security She bagged 1,61,273 votes while her nearest contestant Taimur Alam polled 92, 171. Returning officer Mahfuza Akter announced the results on Sunday evening, a few hours after voting ended. Voting had continued past 4pm due to the slow pace of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and the presence of voters in some centres of Bandar upazila.

Voter turnout in Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election is good as 40% voters have exercised their franchise till noon, said returning officer Mahfuza Akter. “The number of voters increased after noon. Some 40% people have cast their votes in the election till now,” she told UNB on Sunday. However, she also said that the voting is going on peacefully. There is no report of any unwanted incident till the filling of this report around 2:30 pm. Balloting for the Narayanganj City Corporation election started at 8am and will continue till 4pm without any break. READ: NCC polls: Voting underway amid tight security The electioneering officially ended on Friday midnight. Seven candidates are running for the post of the NCC mayor including AL nominated Selina Hayat Ivy and her  principal rival Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP who has been contesting as an independent candidate. Taimur cast his vote at Masdair Islamia Fazil Madrasha center in the morning. Besides, 148 candidates are contesting for 27 ward councilors post while 38 women are contesting for conserved seats for women in the NCC polls. READ: NCC: An unprecedented hattrick, or the mother of all upsets? This time the NCC elections have 517,357 voters – including 257,519 females.  However, there are some 42,418 first-time voters.

After an 18-day high voltage campaigning Narayanganj City Corporation is all set to go to polls on Sunday with focus on who will be the next mayor. The electioneering officially ended on Friday midnight. Although seven candidates are running for the post of the NCC mayor, ruling party nominee Selina Hayat Ivy and her principal rival – Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP leader   fighting as an independent candidate – have stolen all the attention. Election watchers are expecting a tight contest between them. Supporters of both candidates have conducted hectic electioneering. Also read: NCC poll: Electioneering ends with exchange of blows, allegations Besides 148 candidates are contesting for 27 ward councilors post while 38 women are contesting for conserved seats for women in the NCC polls. This time the NCC elections have 517,357 voters – including 257,519 females. As the candidates are trying to woo voters with promises, all the voters want is the development of their city. The candidates' qualifications, popularity, party symbol, gender, age, electronic voting machines (EVMs), and turnout could be the deciding factors this year. Women and youth are expected to play a pivotal role. All the heavyweight mayoral candidates are making last-minute efforts to win their votes. However, there are some 42,418 first-time voters. Whoever wants to win the election must bag a major chunk of the first-timers, according to popular perceptions.

All eyes from around the country are trained on Narayanganj now, with the city corporation polls just one day away. Narayanganj city will go to the polls to elect a mayor for the third time Sunday. The time for electioneering is now over, as of Friday midnight. Although seven candidates are running for the post of the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor, ruling party nominee Ivy and her principal rival – Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP leader who is fighting as an independent candidate – have stolen all the attention. People are expecting a tight contest between them. Supporters of both candidates have made electioneering neck and neck. Also, things have hotted up as the two mayor hopefuls are trying to get the last word in, making promises and trying to put the record straight. This time the NCC elections have 517,357 voters – including 257,519 females. As the candidates are trying to woo voters with promises, all the voters want is the development of their city. The candidates' qualifications, popularity, party symbol, gender, age, electronic voting machines (EVMs), and turnout could be the deciding factors this year. Women and youth are expected to play a pivotal role. All the heavyweight mayoral candidates are making last-minute efforts to win their votes. However, there are some 42,418 first-time voters. Whoever wants to win the election must bag a major chunk of the first-timers, according to popular perceptions. And Shamim Osman never seems to be out of the picture. Despite not being among the seven mayoral candidates, what Shamim does and which way he swings has been at the centre of discussions surrounding the election once again. Also, the use of EVMs can be another big issue as many will use them for the first time. The NCC polls this year will be held using EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers. Many of the voters have little idea about the machines. However, a trial using EVMs started at each polling centre in Narayanganj Friday, from morning till evening. Election officials organised the mock elections to explain the use of EVMs to voters. On the two previous occasions, it was held – since Narayanganj became a city for administrative purposes – the election captured the imagination of the entire country – particularly the first time in 2011. It was very much the arrival on the scene of Dr Selina Hayat Ivy. The original "rebel candidate," she took on and defeated the Awami League's heavyweight in the area, Shamim Osman, by over 1 lakh votes. That was the start of her enduring rivalry with Shamim – the two torchbearers of two very different strands of the Awami League in Narayanganj. In 2016, Ivy won again – this time as the Awami League candidate. Shamim by then had become a member of parliament in 2014. He did look to deprive Ivy of the Awami League nomination, but the party's central command defied the recommendation of its Narayanganj unit – with which Shamim held great influence – to back the popular incumbent. This time, in 2022, the NCC election has once again breathed some life into politics. The city is now awash with campaign posters and banners. Politicians and their supporters took to the field, carrying out activities in 27 wards of NCC. Candidates were seen campaigning hard to win the polls, going door to door and meeting voters face to face until late into the night. Although his equation with Ivy is possibly irredeemable – as anyone who has seen their open warfare on the set of a private television channel can understand – questions were being raised as to whether Shamim's drive to put one over Ivy was making him even neglect his duty towards his party by not campaigning for the candidate. This week Ivy threw a spanner in the works by alleging the man being viewed as Taimur is actually the candidate of the Osman brothers, Shamim and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Selim Osman. However, Shamim said Monday: "The game will be on and we will win it on January 16." Following his announcement, most of the Awami League leaders, activists in Narayanganj were seen in full campaign mode for Ivy, who has served as mayor since 2011. But Ivy said on the same day that "it has become clear from Taimur's activities that he is the candidate nominated by Shamim Osman." This was the same claim she made earlier, that ruffled feathers in the Awami League high command and forced Shamim to come out and clarify his stance ahead of the election. Thursday, regarding Shamim Osman's support, Ivy said: "I did not say I will not need his support. The party has nominated me and the partisans, voters will cast votes for me. If one or two votes do not get cast it will not matter." Taimur said, "My opponent is assuming I got support from certain people and is trying to assassinate my character." "Also, my supporters, party activists, and leaders are being threatened through police visits to their homes." Taimur's coordinator and campaign in-charge, also the convener of district BNP Monirul Islam Robi, was arrested by police from his residence in Hirajhil.

The construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir is in full swing. The Government of India had in February 2020 sanctioned two AIIMS for the Union Territory. NCC (Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd) is the construction company that is constructing this prestigious health infrastructure in Kashmir valley, reports ANI. The total cost of the project is around 1828 crores of rupees and the time for completion of this project is 2025. While speaking to ANI, General Manager, NCC, Mukesh Kumar said, "The AIIMS Kashmir is being constructed at 221 acres of land and project cost is 1828 crores of rupees. We are trying to complete this project by January 2025. Once completed, this will benefit the entire Kashmir Valley. They will not have to travel to far-off places upon its completion. It will save their time." He also said that around 57 buildings will be constructed under this project which includes football ground, tennis courts, gardens having medicinal plants etc. READ: J-K to have district-level Governance Index soon, says MoS Jitendra Singh Local residents of Awantipora lauded this step taken by the Government of India as their problems regarding healthcare will be solved. One of the locals said to ANI, "This step taken by the government of India is not only beneficial and good for South Kashmir, but for Kashmir as a whole too. Earlier, people had to go for treatment in Delhi, PGI, Max or other states. We are extremely grateful to the government of India. It is good for locals in Awantipora. NCC is also a great company, the work is going on really fast." Another local added, "It is a great step. It will benefit us. We will not have to go out to another state for our treatment. Also, it is generating employment for the locals." READ: J-K to have district-level Governance Index soon, says MoS Jitendra Singh "It is a matter of pride for Awantipora and J-K as a whole. We are grateful to the government of India. We would not have to go to other hospitals in other states for treatment. The company constructing it is also working fast," added another local.