Election Commission
848 UPs go to polls in second phase on Nov 11
The second phase of elections to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) will be held on November 11, while the seventh phase polls to 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-polls on November 02.
The election dates were finalised at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC), held with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedules for 848 UPs, 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 constituency after the meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
According to the schedule announced for UPs, the deadline for nomination submission is October 17, while the date for scrutiny of nomination papers is October 20 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is October 26. The 848 UPs are located in the country’s 63 out of 64 districts.
Read: Cumilla-7 by-polls: Pran Gopal elected unopposed
Polls to 10 municipalities: the 7th phase polls to 10 municipalities in 10 different districts will be arranged on November 02.
BNP grassroots leaders want unity of opposition parties
BNP grassroots leaders on Tuesday urged the party policymakers to give focus on bringing the opposition political parties under a single platform to wage a strong movement for the restoration of election-time government.
In a closed-door meeting, they also opined that the party high-command should intensify its diplomatic and political efforts to mount pressure on the government to take steps for holding a credible national election and forming a neutral Election Commission.
A party leader, who was present at the meeting, also said most of the grassroots leaders highlighted the importance of promptly overhauling the party for getting success in the anti-government movement.
As part of their second phase of series meetings with the grassroots leaders, BNP top leaders first sat with its executive committee members under Dhaka and Faridpur organisational divisions at the party chairperson's Gulshan office.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
Party sources said 75 leaders participated in the meeting and gave their opinions about how BNP should get ready for an anti-government movement and the next general election.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was present at the meeting. Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined it from London.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul said their meeting discussed the current political situation in the country and the organisational issues of BNP.
BNP policymakers will also hold another meeting with members of the executive committee in Chattogram, Cumilla, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions on Wednesday.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Earlier, the BNP policymakers had three closed-door meetings with party vice-chairmen, advisory council members, joint secretaries general, organising secretaries, assistant organising secretaries and secretaries and top leaders of the party’s different associate bodies last week.
The meetings were held as part of the party’s planned series of meetings with BNP rank and file to know their views about the party’s next course of action ahead of the next general election.
BNP formed a 502-member national executive committee through its sixth national council on March 19, 2016.
Govt working to constitute EC as per constitution: Quader
Awami League general secretary and Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the concerned ministry is working for the formation of the Election Commission in line with the constitution.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting at the party's central office.
“The Election Commission will be formed in accordance with our constitution following the existing legal process of our country. The concerned ministry of the government is working in this regard.”
Also read: India assured Bangladesh of stopping border killing, says Quader
Quader said ahead of the formation of the new Election Commission next year, the BNP has started a new conspiracy centering its formation.
Referring to BNP’s representation in Search Committee last time, Quader said, "One of them is still there. He gave notes of dissent, disagrees with the Election Commission. That is the beauty of democracy. However, from time to time he created such a situation that put the Election Commission under question. ”
Quader said that the BNP is hatching a series of conspiracies without practicing internal democracy in the 'series' meeting.
Also read: Next election must be under neutral govt: Fakhrul
"This series meeting is a secret meeting to shape the series conspiracy. There is nothing democratic here. They are just planning how to stop the government, how to destabilize the country, how to provoke various evil forces as the BNP is the trusted place of the communal forces in Bangladesh. ”
Voting underway for bypoll to Sylhet-3 constituency
Voting for the bypoll to Sylhet-3 constituency began on Saturday morning amid tight security arrangements.
Polling began at 8 am will continue till 4pm without any break, said regional election officer Foysal Quader. So far, there have been no reports of any violence.
According to the Election Commission, a two-member committee has been formed to ensure free and fair polling in the three upazilas -- Dakkhin Surma and Balaganj -- under the constituency.
Besides, three judicial magistrates have been appointed to oversee polling between September 2 and September 6.
Also read: Parliamentary bypolls: AL announces candidates for three vacant seats
As many as 21 executive magistrates are also on poll duty to maintain law and order. Some 17-18 members of law enforcement agencies, including police and Ansar, are manning each polling booth.
Meanwhile, mobile forces, comprising police, APBn, Ansar, 12 striking force, 12 teams of RAB and 12 platoons of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting.
The constituency fell vacant after its MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury succumbed to Covid on March 11.
The bypoll was deferred twice due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
On July 26, the High Court stayed the bypoll to the constituency till August 5 due to the worsening Covid situation in the country. Later, the court asked the Election Commission to complete the bypoll by September 7.
Also read: Awami League announces candidates for 27 local body polls
Habibur Rahman Habib got the AL ticket for contesting while the other candidates -- Mohammad Atiqur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Junaid Mohammad Mia of Bangladesh Congress and Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury -- are in the fray as independents.
Also read: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
Some 3.5 lakh people are eligible to vote in the bypoll.
By-election to Cumilla-7 on Oct 7
By-election to Cumilla-7 constituency that fell vacant with the death of parliamentarian Prof Ali Ashraf will be held on October 7 next.
The Election Commission announced the election schedule on Thursday, said Director (Public Relations) of EC Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman.
As per the schedule, the deadline for the submission of nominations is September 13, while the date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is September 14 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is September 19.
Besides, the pending elections to nine municipalities and 161 Union Parishads will be held on September 20 next. The polls were earlier postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The nine municipalities are Nangalkot in Cumilla, Kabirhat in Noakhali, Sonagazi in Feni, Boalkhali in Chattogram, Chakoria and Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar, Bhanga in Faridpur, Noapara in Jashore and Debiganj in Panchagarh.
The by-polls to the chairman posts and three vice chairman posts of nine Upazila Parishad, the mayor post and three councilor posts of four separate municipalities, and five councilor posts of five separate city corporations will be held on October 7.
The nine upazila parishad where by-election to the chairman posts will be held are Sonargaon in Narayanganj, Narsingdi Sadar, Khaliajuri in Netrakona, Shahrasti in Chandpur, Jashore Sadar, Srimangal in Moulvibazar, Kachua in Bagerhat, Bajitpur in Kishoreganj and Feni Sadar.
The municipality where the by-polls to the mayoral post will be held is Godagari in Rajshahi.
Having Khaleda freed BNP’s main challenge: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the restoration of democracy and the complete release of Khaleda Zia are now the biggest challenges for their party.
"People are now being deprived of the right to vote today for lack of credible elections as the Election Commission has become a subservient institution,” he said.
While talking to reporters after paying homage to Zia, he also said the entire administration and the judiciary have been politicised by establishing a one-party despotic regime in disguise.”
Fakhrul, along with party standing committee members and some senior leaders, placed wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking the party’s 43rd founding anniversary.
On September 1, 1978, late President Ziaur Rahman founded the party with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
READ: Govt must take responsibility of disappeared people’s families: Fakhrul
BNP and its associate bodies took up various programmes, including discussion, to mark the day.
He said BNP stepped into 44 years today (Wednesday) after 43 years of various struggles. “The biggest challenges for BNP are now to restore democracy in the country and free Khaleda Zia.”
Fakhrul said BNP is standing on its own feet despite various obstacles and repressive acts. “Our 35 lakh leaders and activists have been facing false cases while 500 others have been made disappeared.”
He said they are working to reorganise their party and making them ready to take to the streets. “We hope we’ll be able to play a big role in restoring democracy next year and the year after.”
Fakhrul recalled Zia’s role in introducing multi-party democracy, the free-market economy in the country and taking it forward with various reforms and effective steps.
READ: Fakhrul wants stronger alliance to ‘oust’ Al govt
“When the enemies of the independence assassinated Ziaur Rahman, everyone thought that the BNP might lose its existence. But his worthy successor and the uncompromising leader of democracy, Zia, took the helm of the party. She gave democracy an institutional shape through a long struggle for nine years.”
He said it is unfortunate for the nation that Khaleda has been kept in jail as the government has implicated her in ‘false’ cases.
He came down hard on Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque for what he said making various remarks about a freedom fighter like Ziaur Rahman, his body and grave. “Let him (Haque) prove that he was a freedom fighter.”
Sylhet by-election to be held on Sept 4
By-election to Sylhet-3 constituency will be held on September 4, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
Election Commission secretary M Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedule at a press briefing at EC office in Dhaka.
The constituency fell vacant after its MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury died of coronavirus on March 11.
The election was scheduled to be held on July 28 but it was deferred twice due to surge in Covid-19 cases.
Also read: Sylhet-3 by-election postponed until Aug 5
On July 26, the High Court stayed the by-election to the constituency till August 5 due to the worsening Covid situation in the country.
Later, the court asked to complete the by-election by September 7.
The constituency comprises three upazilas—Dakkhin Surma, Fenchuganj and Balaganj.
Habibur Rahman Habib got the AL ticket for contesting the polls while the other candidates are Mohammad Atiqur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Junaid Mohammad Mia of Bangladesh Congress and Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury as independent.
Also read: Sylhet Regional Election Officer dies of Covid
Some 3.5 lakh voters are eligible in the polls.
The candidates will be allowed for campaigning from 8 am on September 1 to 8 am on September 2.
NID services will be made dynamic, says law minister
The government will recruit new local level officials to make NID services more efficient and dynamic, Law Minister Anisul Haque said in parliament on Monday.
Anisul, who is in charge of the Election Commission Secretariat on parliamentary affairs, said the government has created posts of thana and upazila level assistant election officer and a data entry operator.
Also read: Govt. must sit with EC to discuss transferring NID services from it, says CEC
The NID service will be more dynamic once the recruitment process for these two posts is completed, he said.
The minister was replying to a tabled question from Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary.
The law minister said a total of 7,32,363 people in the country have so far registered to get online National Identity Card services.
He said that NID services have been decentralized for speedy disposal of applications.
Central and field level officials have been given the power to dispose of applications according to the type of application, he added.
Also read: NID services to be provided from Home Ministry: Minister
Replying to a question of AKM Rahmatullah from Dhaka-11, LGRD Minister Tajul Islam said arsenic screening is being conducted in 3,200 unions in 335 upazilas of 54 districts.
Responding to a question from MP Didarul Alam, Minister for Liberation War Affairs Akam Mozammel Haque who is in charge of the Prime Minister's Office on parliamentary affairs, said the government has allotted 1,832.27 acres of land of Sahebganj Sugar Mill in Rangpur Sugar Mills to set up Rangpur EPZ.
He also said the government has also planned to set up EPZ at Prembagh Union's Chengutia under Avoynagar Upazila in Jashore.
Also read: CEC wants NID services to stay under EC
Besides, another EPZ will be set up at Sadar Upazila in Patuakhali.
Construction of these EPZs will begin in the next financial year (2021-22) and will be completed in phases by 2024.
Covid-19: Elections of 163 union parishads, 9 municipalities postponed
Taking stock of the Covid-19 situation in the country, the Election Commission (EC) has postponed elections to 163 union parishads in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
Elections to 68 union parishads in Bagerhat, 34 in Khulna, 21 in Satkhira, 13 in Noakhali, 12 in Chattogram, and 15 in Cox's Bazar have been withheld, which were scheduled for June 21.
The commission has also decided to postpone elections to nine municipalities, out of 11, slated for the same date.
Also read: Covid positivity rate in Bangladesh hits 13.25 %, highest in 46 days
However, 204 other union parishads will go to the polls as per schedule on June 21; by-polls to Lakshmipur-2 will also be held as per schedule on the same date.
The decisions came at an urgent meeting of the commission Thursday amid an upward march of Covid-19 infections in the electoral areas.
Also read: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
The meeting also decided to reschedule by-polls to Dhaka-14, Cumilla-5 and Sylhet-3 to July 28 from July 14.
The commission postponed the polls after considering recommendations of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, local administration, and regional election officials, EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandakar said.
By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
A total of 94 aspirants collected nomination papers from the ruling Awami League to try their luck in three upcoming by-elections : Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5, the party said on Thursday.
The Awami League said 34 nominations have been sold for Dhaka-14, 25 for Sylhet-3 and 35 for Cumilla-5 until the sale closed at 5 pm Thursday.
The by-polls in these constituencies are scheduled for July 28.
The would-be candidates collected forms from Awami League’s President Sheikh Hasia's political office in Dhmonadhi maintaining Covid-19 health protocol, said the party.
The aspirants already have started campaigning through the posters, offline and online in their respective area alongside lobbying with the senior leaders.
The seats became vacant due to the death of members of parliament. Among them, Sylhet-3 MP Mahmud Us Samad died on March 11, Dhaka-14 MP Aslamul Haque on April 4 and Comilla-5 MP Abdul Matin Khasru on April 14.
Voting in these constituencies could not be held within 90 days of the vacancy. So, the polls would take place in the subsequent 90 days, the Election Commission said.