Election Commission
Security forces working to help EC hold fair polls: Home Minister
Security forces are working to help the Election Commission hold fair Union Parisahd elections, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clearly instructed us to ensure fair holding of the elections and security forces are working accordingly,” he told reporters at the secretariat. Responding to a question over violence in the UP elections, the Home Minister said, “Police personnel are performing their duties. The elections are being held in a broad area. You know clashes and violence for establishing supremacy are common in UP elections.”
Incidents of killings and injuries were reported from different places and police have arrested the offenders after identifying them, he added.
Read: 2nd phase of UP polls marred by violence; 6 dead Voting for the second phase of the union parishad polls is underway in the country, with over 41,000 candidates in the fray for different posts.
2nd phase: 835 UPs go to polls Thursday
The second phase of election to 835 Union Parishads is set to be held across the country on Thursday amid fear of violence.
A total of 81 chairman candidates have already been elected unopposed, finding no rivals against them, while all contestants – for chairman and member posts, and reserved seats – in five UPs got elected uncontested.
Read: Another member candidate shot in Cox's Bazar ahead of UP polls
Though the Election Commission earlier announced the schedule for 848 UPs in the second phase election, it postponed polls in seven UPs and cancelled the election in one UP.
Since all contenders in five other UPs have already been elected unopposed, the balloting will be held in 835 UPs on Thursday, according to the EC’s factsheet.
More than 41,000 candidates including 3310 chairman contenders are contesting in the countrywide second phase UP election.
Some 28,747 candidates are contesting for the member posts, while 9,161 women contestants for the reserved seats in the UPs.
But 203 member candidates and 73 women candidates for reserved seats were elected unopposed in this phase.
There are nearly 16.6 million voters – 8,405,831 men, 8,189,379 women and 16 transgender (Hijra) – under 8,492 polling stations in the UPs.
About the recent election violence, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday said it is not possible to prevent such incidents by only deploying police in every locality.
“Such incidents can’t be resisted by deploying guards. It is reality…. Such untoward incidents can’t be prevented with just police guards in every house and locality,” he told reporters after a meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
Read: 2 hacked dead, 10 hurt in Meherpur pre-polls violence
He said tolerance among all people concerned with the election is the only way to check such incidents.
Huda said it would not be just to put the blame of violence on anyone unilaterally. “Rather, tolerance is essential to stop election violence. Here cooperation from political parties, candidates and supporters are required,” said the CEC.
HC turns down writ seeking enactment of law for EC formation
The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition seeking its directive to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as per Article 118 (1) of the Constitution. A bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah turned down the petition. Advocate Md Yarul Islam appeared for the writ petitioner while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state.
Read: HC orders judicial probe into attacks on Hindus in 6 districts On October 13, the writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directive to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as per Article 118 (1) of the Constitution. The writ petition sought the suspension of all activities related to the formation of the Election Commission till the enactment of the law. The writ petition was filed by Advocate Md Yarul Islam, a lawyer of the Supreme Court and secretary general of Bangladesh Congress, a registered political party. The Law Secretary and the Chief Election Commissioner were made respondents to the writ. Advocate Md Yarul Islam said, "It’s possible to formulate a law to form the EC within a week if the government wants. Part VII of the Constitution states what would be the law for the formation of the Election Commission.”
Read:HC summons ACC assistant director over allegation of bribery On October 7, Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq said the Election Commission will be constituted through a search committee. “It won’t be possible right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the tenure of the current EC will expire in February next,” he added.
Joining election depends on atmosphere: BNP
BNP will go to polls if an environment conducive to election is created, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.
“We want to say it clearly that it’s not possible to hold a free and fair election under the Awami League government. For this, a neutral election-time government is needed. We’ll join the election if it’s conducted by a new Election Commission under the neutral government. We’ll wage a movement to ensure it,” said Fakhrul.
He came up with the remarks at a press briefing after visiting the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet on Sunday morning.
Fakhrul reiterated that BNP will not participate in any election under the Awami League (AL) government unless a suitable environment is ensured.
The BNP leader said, “There’s no election situation in Bangladesh now. An unelected and illegitimate government has been in power for the last two terms by force.”
The government has completely failed to provide security to the people of the country as a whole. “It has failed to ensure security of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian community people and their places of worship. Even majority Muslims have no safety in the country.”
Mirza Fakhrul reached Sylhet in the morning. After visiting the shrine in Sylhet, he went to Sunamganj to attend the mourning ceremony of former whip and former president of Sunamganj district BNP Fazlul Haque Aspia.
EC going to be formed as per govt wish: BNP
BNP on Tuesday opposed the formation of the next Election Commission (EC) through a search committee, saying that the government will only induct the people of its choice in the Commission through this process.
“They (govt) are now talking much about the formation of the Election Commission and the search committee. What’s he search committee? Following this system, you’ll constitute it (EC) with persons whoever you want,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The BNP leader made the remarks while inaugurating a conference of representatives of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
Also read: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike
The present election commission will complete its five-year term in February 2022 and the next Commission will arrange the 12th parliamentary election to be held at the end of 2023.
On October 4, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
Fakhrul also slammed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remarks that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder is suffering from “mental problems”.
“They (AL leaders) have become desperate and they’re making various comments against Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder as he has spoken the truth. They’re also saying he is mentally ill. But you (govt) are mentally ill,” he said.
The BNP leader said ruling party leaders are not coming to people as they have long been staying indoors and joining programmes virtually.
“You (AL leaders) don’t come out of your houses. You make many remarks, but we don’t see your leaders outside their homes. You’re doing everything virtually staying indoors — someone from Gonobhaban and some others from ministers’ residences,” he said.
Fakhrul urged the ruling party leaders to come to people and talk to them to understand their pulses. “Arrange an election and create such a situation so that people can cast their votes and only then you will see your actual position. You won’t even get an escape route.”
He said the next election must be held under a non-party and neutral government, enabling people to freely exercise their right to franchise and elect the representatives of their choice.
Also read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
Powerful bureaucrats
The BNP secretary general said bureaucrats are now running the country as they have become more powerful than Awami League.
“Where’s Awami League now? Amla (Bureaucrats) League is now all in all. Wherever you go, you will see DC, SP and OC hold big power. They’re even bigger than them (Awami League leaders). They themselves say that the king of fish is hilsa and the king of the country is police,” he observed.
Fakhrul said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government must be held accountable someday for creating such a situation in the country.
He urged the leaders and activists of Krishak Dal to strengthen their organisation and play a role in the upcoming movement for forcing the government to quit and restore the election-time neutral government system.
“We’ve many expectations from those who came to new leadership. We hope Krishak Dal will truly become an organisation of mass people. Revitalise Krishak Dal and reach out to people at this bad time so that we can remove the current monstrous regime and establish a government and parliament of people,” Fakhrul said.
He also asked the newly-formed partial committee of the Krishak Dal to constitute a full-fledged one within a short time.
END/UNB/ARJ/SAM/1718 hrs
Forming EC by enacting law not possible now: Law Minister
The Election Commission will be constituted through a search committee as it is not possible to form it through enacting a law right now, said law Minister Anisul Haque on Thursday.
“I’m not saying we won’t enact a law for forming the Election Commission as stated in the constitution. But it won’t be possible right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the tenure of the current EC will expire in February next,” he said.
The minister said this while responding to questions from journalists at a programme held at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the city.
The minister said it has already been cleared by the Prime Minister recently that the Election Commission will be formed through a search committee.
“The President had sought opinion from all political parties when the search committee was formed. The gazette on the search committee was published when all agreed on it. The search committee gazette is not a law but close to a law as it was formed with a consensus and as per the President’s decision,” he said.
Read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
Quader urges BNP to forget neutral caretaker govt. for polls
BNP should cooperate in the formation of a neutral election commission instead of bothering about an impartial caretaker government during the next general election, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Wednesday.
Quader was addressing virtually the triennial conference of Tongibari Upazila Awami League in Munshiganj district.
He said that all affairs related to election are placed under the Election Commission which is empowered to take any action to make the balloting free and fair.
He said the election-time government carries out only routine duties and assist the EC in holding a peaceful free and fair election.
Read: Next neutral national poll to be held on time: Quader
Quader trashed BNP leader Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s recent comment that people will vote for BNP to get rid of Awami League’s misrule.
“The reality is that people have voted for Awami League to free them from BNP misrule,” he said.
He said people are happy with the rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “They will not allow them to be trapped by BNP again,” he said.
Read: Work for the people’s welfare, not for personal gain, Quader asks AL members
Quader said voters have turned away from the BNP long ago and this has become clear in the recent by-elections and local government polls too.
Awami League presidium member Dr Abdur Razzak, organizing secretary Mirza Azam, liberation war affairs secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, legal affairs secretary Najibullah Hiru, MP Sagufta Yasmin Emily, among others, also addressed the council.
Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the process of constituting the Election Commission (EC) through a search committee is a deception with people.
“We’ve the experience that the Election Commission through a search committee is formed solely with their (govt’s) people. Secondly, it’s nothing but a deception with people as they (govt) say the Commission is formed not by us, but by a search committee,” he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office about the Prime Minister’s different comments on the next election, EC and BNP, the BNP leader said the current government earlier formed the EC completely with the people of its own choice and used them during the elections.
Mentioning that the current EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, was also constituted through a search committee, Fakhrul said it absolutely played a ‘partisan role in favour of Awami League during the 11th parliamentary polls.
He said elections will never be free, fair and acceptable under any election commission unless an election-time neutral government is there to oversee the polls.
“So, an impartial election-time government is very urgent to hold a fair and credible election. The election won’t be fair even if it is held under the best Election Commission without the government’s cooperation. This is the main crisis,” Fakhrul observed.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
“The President will form a search committee and the election commission will be constituted through this search committee,” she said, replying to a question at a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
BNP is people’s ‘choice’
As his attention was drawn to the PM’s comment as to why people will vote for BNP, Fakhrul said people have got fed up with the government’s ‘misrule’. “So, people will vote for BNP to get rid of them (AL). They’ve created such a situation in the country that there’s no security of people’s lives and livelihoods. There’s nothing but fear and terror all around.”
He said Awami League had promised to give people rice at Tk 10 per kg, but it is now not positive to buy one kg rice at Tk 70. “They also assured the farmers of giving them free fertilizer, but the price of fertilizer is now skyrocketing. “People will vote for BNP because they want to cast their vote for those for whom they want to. They’ll also do it for the guarantee of getting jobs.”
The BNP leader said many mills and factories have been closed due to the government’s failure to protect those by giving incentive packages during the Covid pandemic.
“The informal sector has lost capital while employment in the sector has declined. Unfortunately, the government has taken the country to a place from where people now want to get back. They also want to be freed from the grasp of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina and this illegitimate government,” he observed.
Recalling their party’s many successes in running the country and boosting economic progress, he said people will vote for BNP for peace and development.
“The government used to say it has carried out huge development activities and made a lot of progress. If they’ve developed the country so much, then why are they not holding a fair election and sitting with political parties to solve the political crisis? I would like to ask them to hold a fair election under a caretaker government and then they will see whether people vote for them,” Fakhrul said.
He said neither the nation nor the international community has confidence in the country’s current electoral system.
No ‘alternative’ to movement
Fakhrul warned their party together with people will surely take to the streets to realise their demand for holding the next polls under a caretaker government.
"The people of this country must wage a movement. People had joined a movement for a caretaker government in the past and they’ll do it again,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party has now only one demand for the restoration of a polls-time neutral government. “We want nothing else.”
No more polls under AL
He said their party will neither accept nor participate in the polls like 2014 and 2018 ones. “We would like to clearly say there would be no more elections under the Awami League government.”
Fakhrul said the government should sit with the political parties to reach a consensus over the formation of a polls-time neutral government and an acceptable election commission for holding a meaningful election. “Otherwise, the election will become a farce. “
BNP sitting out polls for 'fear of losing': Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has chastised the BNP for turning their back on elections, putting it down to a 'fear of losing' on the part of the opposition.
He made the remarks while delivering a speech Saturday to his party activists from his official residence.
Mentioning that the Election Commission is committed to free and fair voting, the General Secretary of the Awami League said that the government will extend all kinds of cooperation to the Election Commission to ensure fair voting.
Quader also called upon all registered political parties including BNP to participate in the elections.
READ: Don’t resort to arson again in name of movement, Quader warns BNP
Quader again warned the Awami League leaders and workers and party-nominated people's representatives at all levels to shun any rebel candidates in the election.
Alongside, he also called upon all to work together for the party's nominee.
The AL started selling nomination forms for the interested candidates for the party nomination in the elections of different levels from October 2, which will continue till October 6 from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
The party also informed that interested candidates will have to collect and submit an application form for party nomination from the political office of the Awami League president in Dhanmondi.
READ: Padma Bridge to open before June next year: Quader
At the time of collecting the application form, all the candidates must bring a photocopy of the national identity card and submit the nomination form by 5 pm on October 6, 2021.
The general secretary of the Awami League said that the candidates have to comply with the proper health protection rules without any kind of public meeting while the candidate can collect and submit the application form himself or through a representative of the candidate.
Caretaker is a must, no more game: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party will not accept the upcoming national election unless it is held under a" neutral government".
"Our stance is very clear there would be no more game in the name of an election. The election must be held under a neutral government and to be conducted by a neutral election commission,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said, “We won’t accept any election if there’s no polls-time neutral government and an impartial election commission."
BNP arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers’, Bangladesh.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
Stating that the days of the current government are numbered, Fakhrul urged Awami League to try to read public minds and understand the writings on the walls. “That means quit power after making the provision of the polls-time caretaker government and let people exercise their right to vote.”
He called upon BNP leaders and activists to be organised and get ready for a street movement instead of creating chaos for having party posts.
“This is the only way left for us. It won’t be possible to remove the current monstrous regime without a mass movement and mass uprising. So, we’ve to unite all our people, unite all the political forces to take place a mass uprising,” the BNP leader said, pointing at the party rank and file.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
He said Awami League has become politically bankrupt losing public support for its ”misdeeds and repressive acts. They (AL) know they won’t even get 30 seats if any election is held in a free and fair manner. That’s why they have politicised all the state institutions.”
Fakhrul also alleged that the government has established its control over the judiciary, administration, law enforcement agencies and the media. “So, the entire nation is unable to speak up and exercise their freedom of expression.”