United News of Bangladesh

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission (EC) recount votes in 32 constituencies, alleging manipulation during the counting and result publication of the national election. "Particularly 32 constituencies have been identified. We have been defeated here by a small margin of votes. This is the statement of our candidates....we have submitted the list of such constituencies to the commission and asked them to recount the votes there," said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad. He said this while briefing reporters after a meeting between the delegation and the EC in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban. Four election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarker and Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah were present in the meeting. Manikganj Election: 13 candidates lose deposits as BNP sweeps 3 seats Azad said there are allegations that the agents of their candidates were forcibly removed from many polling stations during the counting of votes and even those who were present in the counting room faced threats and intimidation when they tried to complain about any irregularities. “The congenial environment required for a fair vote counting has been severely disrupted. So, if there is an error in the vote counting process, it will directly affect the election results—this is natural. At the same time, various types of irregularities -- rubbing, cutting, overwriting and no signatures of our candidate’s original agent in the result sheets in many places,” he said. Responding to a question, the Jamaat leader said despite the gazette publication of newly elected MPs, legal avenues remain open for them. “There are three legal stages—Election Commission, election tribunal and the High Court. We will follow the legal process,” he said. Azad also questioned the timing of gazette publication, saying it was issued at 11:00 pm on February 13, just a day after the election. “Candidates from remote areas had no opportunity to submit complaints. We urged the Commission to investigate the allegations. Though legal doors are open, our rights have been undermined,” he said. Threatening to wage tougher programmes, he said if violence does not stop, the alliance would arrange a protest rally from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram at 3:30 pm on February 16. The Jamaat leader expressed concern over post-election violence, citing incidents similar to the Hatiya (Noakhali) violence. “There are questions whether incidents like those in 2018 are recurring. In my own constituency, three women were injured. We have submitted reports from 54 districts,” he said. He said the alliance decided to take to the streets if violence does not stop, while playing a constructive opposition role in parliament. Noting that their alliance MPs would take oath, Azad said the alliance has taken a positive decision regarding oath-taking. “We will take the oath, go to parliament and play a constructive role. At the same time, the streets will remain open for us,” he said.    

Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday described Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election as ‘acceptable, transparent, peaceful and orderly’. He commended the peaceful conduct of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections and the July Charter referendum, while highlighting areas where further progress on ‘inclusion and accessibility’ could strengthen the democratic process. “The people of Bangladesh have exercised their democratic rights to seek the fulfillment of their aspirations. We encourage them to be magnanimous and united in their shared democratic future,” said the former President of Ghana while presenting the Group’s interim statement on Thursday’s national election and referendum at a city hotel. Looking ahead to the next election cycle, he encouraged the Bangladesh Election Commission to conduct a post-election review, including of all observer recommendations, as is consistent with good practice. The final report, which will set out the full findings on the process and recommendations in greater detail, will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, and thereafter shared with the government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission, political parties, and Commonwealth governments and then made public. The Chairperson acknowledged the context in which the elections were conducted, including the significant political developments following the July Uprising of 2024, as well as decisions affecting the participation of some political parties.  While the Group noted isolated reports of post-election tensions, it encouraged all stakeholders to continue to promote calm and peaceful conduct during the post-election period, and to resolve any disputes through the relevant legal channels. The Observer Group praised the vibrant media coverage, noting its important role in informing citizens and encouraging political debate. At the same time, it raised concerns about online misinformation, cyber harassment and hate speech, which continue to affect public discourse. The participation of women and youths emerged as areas requiring greater attention. Women accounted for only 4 per cent of candidates, with seven elected, while youth activism did not always translate into formal influence within political party structures, he said.  According to the Group’s statement, despite isolated pre- and post-election tensions, polling officials, security personnel and election agents generally carried out their duties with professionalism.  The Group also noted that officials assisted elderly voters and persons with disabilities. However, many polling stations remained inaccessible, particularly on upper floors, and lacked provisions for other forms of disability. On the referendum, the Group said it recognises the Charter as a response to multiple and urgent demands for reform. “At the same time, some stakeholders expressed concerns as to whether the referendum process was sufficiently consultative and clearly communicated.” The Group encouraged all stakeholders to maintain calm during the post-election period and consider the recommendations that will be outlined in its forthcoming final report. The Commonwealth Observer Group is an independent body that will make recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. It was constituted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Twelve experts, drawn from the fields of politics, law, media, gender, and election administration from several Commonwealth regions, were part of the group. UN encourages political stakeholders to strengthen national unity in Bangladesh The Commonwealth admitted Bangladesh as its 34th member on 18 April 1972, after its independence in December 1971. This is the fourth time that a Commonwealth Observer Group has been deployed.

As the process of forming the 13th Jatiya Sangsad gets underway following the national election, public attention has once again turned to the state privileges enjoyed by members of parliament (MPs). The Election Commission (EC) has published the two gazette notifications of the 297 newly elected members of parliament elected to the 13th Parliament as well as the referendum results. The two gazettes were issued on Friday night by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. The process for administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers will now be arranged. Amid this process, the focus has shifted to the wide range of financial benefits, facilities, and special entitlements provided to lawmakers under existing laws. According to official rules, an MP is entitled not only to a monthly salary but also to multiple state-funded allowances and privileges, as outlined in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973, and its subsequent amendments. These benefits cover allowances, transport, healthcare, travel, insurance, office expenses and telecommunications. MPs’ Benefits Monthly Salary and Allowances: Basic Salary-Tk 55,000, Constituency allowance-Tk12,500 entertainment allowance-Tk 5,000, transport allowance-Tk 70,000 (including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and driver’s salary), office expense allowance-Tk 15,000, laundry allowance-Tk 1,500, miscellaneous allowance-Tk 6,000. Vehicle Facilities Duty-free import of a car, jeep, or microbus, exempt from customs, VAT, and taxes, access to import a new vehicle under the same scheme after five years, travel Allowances Air, rail, or water travel: 1.5 times the highest class fare, road travel: per-kilometre allowance and domestic travel-Tk120,000 annual travel allowance or travel pass Daily Allowances While on duty daily allowance Tk 750, travel allowance Tk 75. Gazettes of newly elected MPs, referendum results published Attendance at parliamentary or committee sessions: daily allowance Tk 800, travel allowance Tk 200 Medical Facilities Government-level medical care for MPs and their families include monthly medical allowance Tk 700 Insurance Government insurance of Tk 10 lakh in case of death or permanent disability while on duty Optional Grant Fund Up to Tk 5 lakh per year for discretionary use Telecommunication Facilities Official telephone connection at MPs’ residences and monthly telephone and call expenses Tk 7,800 Tax Benefits All allowances and benefits received by MPs are exempt from income tax. These provisions are aimed at supporting MPs in performing their legislative and constituency responsibilities efficiently.

The Election Commission on Thursday expressed its gratitude to political parties, candidates, law enforcement personnel, government and private officials on election duty, observers, media workers, voters and the people of Bangladesh for their overall cooperation in making the referendum and the 13th national election free, fair, impartial and festive. In a press release, the commission also urged all concerned to arrange special prayers at mosques after Friday’s Juma prayers for the country’s peace, prosperity and development. EC to take strict action if evidence of vote buying is found It further requested other places of worship to hold special prayers at convenient times for the same purpose. Voting in Bangladesh’s national election concluded on Thursday in a largely peaceful atmosphere, with high hopes of restoring genuine democracy and securing a strong mandate for national reforms. The polling began at 7:30am and continued until 4:30pm without interruption at 42,659 polling stations in 299 out of 300 constituencies, amid the deployment of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff. Alongside the parliamentary election, voters also participated in a referendum to express their views through ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes on proposals for several constitutional amendments. Hidden cameras on police, drones deployed to prevent chaos: EC

Dhaka, Feb 12 (UNB) - Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday said that 47.91 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots by 2pm at 36,031 out of 42,651 polling centres across the country. He said the commission has yet to receive turnout data from 6,620 centres, he told reporters at the EC secretariat in the afternoon. Bangladesh Polls: EC reports about 33% turnout by noon Responding to a claim by Jamaat regarding suspension of voting in nearly a hundred centres in three constituencies, the EC Secretary said there was a scope to halt the voting if the allegations had been proven. Akhtar Ahmed said there has so far been no major problem in the overall election situation. About his visits to two polling centres earlier in the day, he said officials there informed him that the flow of voters was slow until noon. “When we were returning, we noticed that the flow was increasing,” he said.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election. “As we approach the election day that is tomorrow, I wish to reaffirm the election commission's unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election,”  he said while briefing international election observers and foreign journalists in the city. The briefing was arranged at a city hotel on the eve of the Referendum 2026 and 13th Parliamentary Election to be held on Thursday (Feb 12). The CEC said transparency in the voting and counting process will be ensured. “Voters irrespective of gender, age or background are encouraged to participate freely,” he said. The CEC said ballots are issued only after proper identification and voting is conducted in secrecy in accordance with the prescribed rules. Any electoral dispute will be addressed strictly in accordance with established legal and constitutional procedures, he added. “Transparency remains a cornerstone of our election management,” he said, adding that  approximately 330 international observers and more than 160 international journalists are independently covering the elections. Nasir Uddin said from the very first day of his commission’s journey, they have prioritized transparency. Pointing at the observers and journalists, he said, “Your engagement is profoundly meaningful for ensuring the highest level of clarity and public confidence in this election.” 394 foreign observers, 197 foreign journalists to monitor Bangladesh  elections Four election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed were present. The CEC said the electoral process is free, fair, impartial and credible. The Commission’s preparations have followed a coordinated and multi-dimensional approach encompassing legal reform, institutional readiness, stakeholder consultations and operational planning, he said. Noting that special emphasis was placed on voter registration, he said, “Through a nationwide voter list update, approximately 4.5 million new voters have been enrolled, including 2.7 million women, bringing the total number of registered voters to over 127 million with a high level of data accuracy.” About the postal balloting system, Nasir Uddin said for the first time, the commission has introduced out of country voting through it supported postal ballots for Bangladesh diaspora voters. “Despite a limited preparation and outreach period, the response has been encouraging with approximately 0.8 million expatriate voters completing registration,” he said. At the same time, in-country postal voting has been undertaken for eligible categories of voters, he added. “All operational arrangements have been finalized,” he said, adding that all electoral materials including ballot papers have already been distributed to the returning officers for the respective constituencies and the ballot papers are currently being distributed to the polling centers. “Voting will take place in a single day beginning at 7:30am in the morning and concluding at 4:30pm in the afternoon,” said the CEC. Explaining the polling process, he said the presiding officers assisted by assistant presiding officers and polling officers will manage polling operations and vote-counting at the polling stations in the presence of candidates or their authorized agents as well as accredited observers and journalists. After the close of polling, counting will be conducted at the polling stations under the supervision of the presiding officers, he said. “Results will be announced at the polling stations upon completion of counting and subsequently compiled and publicly declared by the returning officers,” Nasir Uddin said.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday alleged that vote-buying and the production of special clothing for women are taking place ahead of the election, but the Election Commission has failed to act despite being informed. “We see in the media that special clothing is being produced for lakhs of women. Ballot papers are being printed and seized along with equipment. Even after seeing all this, the Election Commission is not taking visible action,” he said. A BNP delegation, led by Nazrul Islam Khan, met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon on Tuesday, a day ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum. Senior EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was also present at the meeting. Other members of the BNP delegation included Chairperson’s Advisory Council member and Election Steering Committee member Ismail Jabiullah and former EC Secretary Dr Mohammad Zakaria, among others. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Nazrul Islam Khan said BNP wants a free, fair and neutral election. “We have instructed our candidates and polling agents through WhatsApp messages so that the election is not obstructed in any way. We have urged the Election Commission to play its lawful role to ensure a peaceful and credible election,” he said. He also said that individuals who often speak on talk shows in a way that inspires confidence among people are allegedly distributing money to voters. We asked the commission how it views this. The commission said it would take legal action. We have clearly said that whoever is involved in unethical, immoral and illegal activities must be brought under the law, he added. Election atmosphere festive, no reason to worry: EC Nazrul Islam Khan questioned why such incidents are not coming to the EC’s notice beforehand, even though intelligence agencies and law enforcement forces are now under the commission during the election period. “These are not issues to be dealt with only on election day. Why are they not detected earlier?” he asked. He further said some individuals consider themselves powerful, which is not being received positively by the public. “Even after informing the Election Commission, action is not being taken. Everyone must strictly perform their duties as per the law,” he said. Referring to media reports claiming that certain deputy commissioners (DCs) are aligned with specific political parties, Nazrul Islam Khan said such reports could be rumours intended to mislead party activists. “We want to see these as rumours. But the Election Commission must ensure that no official acts in a partisan manner. If anything like this is noticed, immediate action must be taken,” he said. Responding to a question, he said no situation has yet emerged that could disrupt the election. “One day is still left. We hope there will be no problems. The party that does not want elections is not participating. All parties contesting the polls want a free and fair election,” he said, expressing optimism that BNP would win with a large margin through a credible vote. On the issue of ballot box deployment, he said he would have preferred ballot boxes to be sent to polling centres on election morning. “However, many areas in the country are remote and far from police station headquarters. Sending ballot boxes at night to those areas is safer. The ballot boxes will be transparent and have four locks, with an additional lock added once voting is completed. They will be opened in the presence of polling agents,” he said. Asked about the possibility of militant attacks, Nazrul Islam Khan said such threats are often exaggerated politically. “This cannot be solved by law alone. Social awareness must be increased and social resistance must be built,” he added.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Tuesday said there is no reason for concern over the election, as a festive atmosphere prevails nationwide with enthusiastic voter participation and unprecedented security measures in place. “Voters’ preparations and enthusiasm are clearly visible. Just look at the trains in Dhaka today – a huge number of people are returning home only to cast their votes. The presence and excitement of voters, the engagement of political parties and their awareness... The polls have already turned into a festivity,” told a press briefing in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban. Sanaullah said the level of force and capacity deployed this time has never been seen before in Bangladesh. “Considering all these, I do not think there is any reason to be anxious.” He, however, feared that isolated incidents could occur but the Commission is fully prepared to deal with any situation. Arms Recovery Sharing a statistics, the Election Commissioner said from December 13 to date, law enforcement agencies have recovered around 850 weapons across the country. “The prima facie of bringing these arms, we believe, to be misused during the elections, he said, even weapons were recovered from a place in Cumilla on Tuesday. Citing that the arms were recovered from Dhaka, Jashore and Faridpur earlier, he said, vested quarters want to carry out violence and they have not stopped their activities. But we’re aware of it.... here we can appreciate our law enforcement agencies for what they have done till now.” He hoped that the law enforcers will make their best efforts to maintain law and order during and after the elections. Law and Order Satisfactory Sanaullah said the Election Commission remains satisfied with the overall law and order situation so far, describing it as better than at any previous time, despite a few isolated incidents. “The Election Commission is satisfied with the law and order situation we have so far. It would have been better if the isolated incidents that have occurred had not happened. We are in a better situation than at any time in the past,” he said. Key in your hands, use it wisely: Prof Yunus tells voters The Commissioner urged political parties, candidates, voters and supporters to maintain the prevailing festive and cordial atmosphere and ensure that the election is held peacefully removing existing tensions in some areas. Election at a Glance Sanaullah said a total of 2,028 candidates, including nominees of 50 political parties and independent contenders, are contesting in 299 parliamentary constituencies. Among them are 81 women candidates. The in-person voting will be conducted in 42,659 polling stations, while counting of postal ballots will take place at 299 other stations. Altogether, there are a total of 42,958 polling stations in 299 constituencies. Of the in-person polling stations, around 50 percent have been marked as general centres, while the remaining 50 percent have been categorised as important or vulnerable centres. Tarique keeps up momentum, spends busy day with party work The country’s total number of voters stands at more than 127.7 million, with male voters numbering around 64.8 million and female voters about 62.8 million. A total of 127,298,522 voters (in 299 constituencies) are eligible to cast their ballots in this election. Of them, 64,620,077 are male voters, 62,677,232 are female voters and 1,213 are third-gender voters. The country has a total of 127,711,899 voters (in 300 constituencies) –64,825,154 males, 62,885,525 females and 1,220 third-gender. Postal Voting, Observers, Journalists More than one million people have already cast their votes through postal ballots. Regarding postal voting, the Election Commissioner said that as of Tuesday morning, around 703,000 postal ballots have already reached the returning officers. The remaining ballots, currently in transit, are expected to arrive within the next couple of days. So far, 45,330 domestic observers have been registered, while around 350 foreign observers have also been accredited, a number that may increase slightly by Wednesday. About 9,700 journalists have registered to cover the election, including 156 foreign journalists. Massive Security Deployment Sanaullah said nearly 958,000 members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across all 299 constituencies and beyond. In addition, around 2,100 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates are engaged on election duties to ensure the electoral code is maintained. “For the first time, we are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones and body-worn cameras. These will be deployed across the country, with some overlap in certain areas,” he said, adding that more than 90 percent of polling stations have been equipped with CCTV cameras. Law-and-order situation satisfactory ahead of Feb-12 polls: EC A total of 69 returning officers, 958 assistant returning officers, 43,078 presiding officers, 247,862 assistant presiding officers and more than half a million polling officers will be engaged in election duties. Logistics, Briefing, Result reporting Distribution of ballot papers and election materials from assistant returning officers’ offices will begin on Wednesday morning and is expected to reach the polling stations by evening. The Election Commission will hold a briefing for international observers and journalists on Wednesday at 11:00am at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. Sanaullah also said the rule regarding voter slips has been amended, allowing candidate names or symbols to be printed on the slips while maintaining the prescribed size. Progress reports on polling will be shared at regular intervals, with results expected to be announced in phases. Counting of votes for both the parliamentary election and the referendum will begin simultaneously at the polling stations to avoid confusion or unrest. Result Announcement “Based on our experience, most results are likely to be available by midnight, except for a few distant polling stations,” he said. EC Action, Voter Turnout The Election Commissioner said around 300 cases were so far filed over the violation of electoral code of conduct, and more than 500 investigations have been conducted. In many cases, candidates or agents corrected their actions after seeking apologies, and no further action was taken. No scope for ‘election engineering’ this time, warns Fakhrul Sanaullah said feedback from the field suggests there would be a strong voter turnout in the referendum and 13th parliamentary election to be held on Thursday next. “Given the enthusiasm we are seeing among voters, we hope and expect a good turnout, Insha’Allah,” he added.

The Election Commission (EC) has banned the carrying and use of mobile phones within a 400-yard radius of polling stations on polling day in the February-12 referendum and national parliamentary election, except for four personnel. The directive was issued in a letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Md Shahidul Islam, which was sent to the returning officers on Sunday. According to the EC decision, only three categories of personnel will be allowed to carry mobile phones inside polling stations. They are the presiding officer concerned, the police officer who will be in-charge for security at the station concerned, and two Ansar members (Embodied Ansar/General Ansar/VDP) assigned to use the ‘Election Security 2026’ application. Due to the directive, candidates or even journalists will not be permitted to carry or use mobile phones within the 400-yard perimeter of polling stations on polling day. EC estimates Tk 3100 cr cost for Feb-12 election, referendum The letter instructed 69 returning officers, including the divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chattogram, deputy commissioners of all 64 districts, and the regional election officers of Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna, to ensure proper implementation of the decision. The Election Commission announced the election schedule on December 11 last year to hold the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday alleged the Election Commission that a portion of the administration plays partial role and police raids its offices in different places on various excuses ahead of the referendum and 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12 next. “A section of the administration is seen in various places as leaning to one side. We’re receiving such allegations repeatedly,” said Jamaat assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair while talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. A five-member Jamaat delegation met the CEC at the latter’s office in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban, seeking EC’s immediate actions to ensure neutral roles from the administration in the election.   Mahboob Zubair said such conduct by the administration would create confusion among the people. “This will be a major obstacle in holding a fair, nice and credible election,” he said. He said their offices are raided by police on various excuses and their women activists are harassed in many places but the local administration doesn’t address the issues despite repeated requests. Jamaat seeks victory for 18 crore people in upcoming election: Shafiqur Rahman “We see attacks and terrorist activities are being carried out in different places across the country and the police are raiding our election offices under various pretexts,” said the Jamaat leader, citing that their women activists face attacks and harassment in Dhaka-15 where Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman contests from. He said they informed the returning officers, assistant returning officers and administration, but they see no visible improvement in the electoral environment in those places. Noting that their offices and activists came under attacks in Patuakhali and Pabna, Mahboob Zubair said they asked the Election Commission to remove the Officer in-Charge of Bauphal Police Station as he is playing a completely biased role.