United News of Bangladesh

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday (November 19) urged leaders of political parties to motivate the country’s voters to go to the polling stations during national election. “Over the last 10 to 15 years, our country’s voters have gradually become reluctant to go to the polling centres. You are the national leaders and political leaders. The people at the grassroots are directly influenced by you. I request you to motivate the voters to go to the centres,” he said while addressing a pre-election dialogue at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP) and several other political parties joined the discussion which began at 10:30am with the CEC in the chair. Pointing to the political parties, the Chief Election Commissioner said he expects them to play their due role in ensuring that their candidates fully comply with the electoral code of conduct in the upcoming national election. “You have a role to ensure that your candidates follow the code of conduct. We hope you to play this expected role,” he added. Read more: Bangladesh Election: CEC urges stakeholders to help ensure voter safety Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission with the help of the political parties and other stakeholders would deliver a good election for the nation. The Jamaat delegation led by its Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar participated in the talks while the NCP team led by its Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary attended it. The other invited political parties for the morning session are Ganosamhati Andolan, Nationalist Democratic Movement-NDM, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party-BMJP and Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh. The Commission is holding another discussion on Wednesday afternoon with BNP and five other parties. Read more: Home Adviser signals zero tolerance on unrest as election in February The five other invitees are Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (Andaleev), Gonaodhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Republican Party-BRP and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad Marxist. The Election Commission opened its pre-election dialogue with registered political parties on November 13 last and has already held talks with 34 parties. Currently, there are 55 registered political parties, excluding the Awami League whose registration remains suspended.  The ongoing dialogue is considered as the last major task before the announcement of the national election schedule in early December. In late September 2025, the Commission opened a series of electoral dialogues with different stakeholders amid talks with civil society representatives on September 28. Later, the EC held separate dialogues with the representatives of teachers, senior journalists from different media outlets, election experts and election observers. Read more: Working with a clear commitment to create fair election atmosphere: CEC

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday called on the Election Commission to cancel polling stations that were created for political reasons during the Awami League’s rule. “Polling centres that were set up for political purposes must be cancelled. The Election Commission should announce new polling stations based on the actual distribution of the population. This is our expectation and our demand,” he said while talking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Rizvi alleged that during the ‘fascist regime’ of Sheikh Hasina, many polling stations were created to serve political interests of Awami League. “There have been three major elections – one held without voters, another in the middle of the night, and the last one was a dummy election. People have not forgotten these polls,” he said. The BNP leader said people may move on from these elections only if the Election Commission and the interim government ensure a free and fair election in February. Election in February, reaffirms Adviser Asif Nazrul Rizvi stressed that a neutral and acceptable election is essential to restore public trust in the electoral process. “If the Election Commission acts on the demands of the people and democratic political parties, voters will feel confident to go to polling centres safely after nearly 16 to 17 years.” He urged the Election Commission to create an environment where voters can take part in the election freely and without fear or favour. Rizvi, along with leaders and workers of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, placed a floral wreath at the grave of Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, marking the 45th founding anniversary of the BNP’s voluntary affairs wing. They also offered fateha there and prayed for the salvation of Ziaur Rahman’s soul. Speaking about the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) election, Rizvi alleged that a mob was created to prevent BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, from buying nomination forms. “Why is there a mob in every area when Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus’ government is in power? Why is mob culture being allowed to grow in every locality, in villages and districts? Lawlessness is rising and some unruly people are taking the law into their own hands,” he said. The BNP leader claimed that mob culture is putting people’s lives at risk as the law is not functioning properly citing two recent incidents in Taraganj, Rangpur. “We do not accept such a situation under the interim government.” Credible election not possible with AL loyalists in police, admin: Rizvi Rizvi also criticised the government for allowing loan defaulters to reschedule and renew loans. “During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, defaulters were allowed to reschedule Tk 3.5 lakh crore worth of loans. Even under the current government, around Tk 1.5 lakh crore in bad loans have been rescheduled and renewed.” He said those who looted public money and became loan defaulters should not be rewarded in this way. Rizvi also demanded the arrest of those who looted money from banks. “People like Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir looted crores of taka through Farmers Bank, and Nafiz Sarafat did the same with Padma Bank. These corrupt individuals must be arrested and brought to justice.” He also called upon the government to take strong and effective steps to recover the looted public money.  

All 161 polling stations under five wards of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election, slated to be held on June 12, have been identified as vulnerable. According to the sources of Returning Officers and Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), there are 289 polling stations under 31 wards of Khulna city and to maintain law and order, the law enforcement agencies divided it into two segments—‘important’ and ‘general’. This year, the law enforcement agencies declared161 polling stations as ‘important’ while the rest 128 stations were identified as general. Also read: KCC Polls: 222 candidates -7 mayoral- collect nomination papers The polling stations of no 4, 6, 7, 10 and 28 wards of the city were identified as vulnerable while the polling stations under 16, 19 and 22 wards were declared as ‘important’. There are six polling stations under no 4 ward, nine at no 6 ward, 12 at no 10 ward, nine at no 28 ward, 10 at no 16 ward,7 at no 19 ward and 7 under 22 wards. Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Masudur Rahman Bhuiya, said the list of vulnerable polling stations has been prepared after keeping different issues in mind. Primarily, a decision has been taken to deploy seven policemen and 17 Ansar members to each polling station, declared as ‘important’ while seven policemen and 15 Ansar members in the polling stations declared as general. Besides, 3,567 police, 300 armed police, and 4,657 Ansar members will perform their duties in Khulna city to ensure a free and fair election.  

The second phase election to 60 municipalities will be held on Saturday with participation of two major political parties – Bangladesh Awami League and BNP – in the most of the election areas.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday voiced concern that the voter turnout in polls has marked a gradual fall due to people’s apathy for voting and politics.