Voting in the by-polls to the six parliamentary seats — left vacant after BNP MPs resigned —concluded amid some stray incidents on Wednesday afternoon. The voting began at 8:30 am and continued till 4:30 pm, said SM Asaduzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Election Commission. The six constituencies are: Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4 and 6, Chapainawabganj-2, 3 and Brahmanbaria-2. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in the by-elections. However, no CCTV cameras were installed in the polling centers, he added. Forty aspirants are vying in the 6 constituencies for MP post. In Chapainawabganj, a chase and counter-chase occurred between supporters of two candidates at the District Ideal High School Centre around 9 am. A scuffle took place between the supporters of independent candidate Samiul Haque Liton and Awami League-backed candidate Abdul Wadud at the polling station -- triggering a chase and counter-chase, said Additional Superintendent of Chapainawabganj Police, Abul Kalam Shaheed. However, police brought the situation under control. A crude bomb was recovered from the spot. UNB Chapainawabganj correspondent reports: Voting in the by-election ended peacefully amid low voter turnout. Read more: By-polls to 6 JS seats underway amid stray incidents Abu Asif Ahmed, an expelled leader of BNP and an independent candidate who went missing on Friday, could not be traced till Wednesday afternoon. Some 1,100 police have been deployed at the polling stations while four platoons of BGB members, nine teams of RAB, nine mobile teams of police, and four striking teams were also performing their duties to maintain the law and order situation. Meanwhile, the government on Tuesday announced a public holiday on Wednesday in the election areas on the occasion of the by-elections. Earlier on December 10, 2022 at a public rally, parliamentarians of BNP announced their resignation from the JS. The next day, on December 11, Chapainawabganj-2 lawmaker Md Aminul Islam, Bogura-4 lawmaker Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Bogura-6 lawmaker Golam Mohammad Siraj, and Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Zahidur Rahman resigned. Two other BNP lawmakers — Advocate Abdus Sattar of Brahmanbaria-2 constituency and Harun-or-Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 — resigned later.

Elections at 57 Zila Parishads of Bangladesh began on Monday (October 17, 2022) morning by using electronic voting machines (EVMs). The voting began at 9:00 am and will continue until 2:00 pm without any break under the supervision of the deputy commissioners who are acting as returning officers, according to the Election Commission. Voting in the Zila Parishads will be held at 925 booths in 462 centres across the country while 60,866 voters will cast their vote. Read:EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC Elected representatives of other local government bodies such as Union Parishads, municipalities and Upazila Parishads are eligible to vote in the election. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Sunday that CCTV cameras will be used in every centre in the Zila Parishad elections just like the recently held Gaibandha-5 elections. The EC suspended the election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat for “widespread malpractices” recorded in the CCTV cameras. The Election Commission says it will monitor the 57 Zila Parishads polls of Bangladesh through CCTV cameras from a monitoring cell set up in its headquarters in Dhaka. Read: Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC

The Election Commission (EC) today approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election. The project details will soon be sent to the Planning Commission for approval, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said in a press briefing. Earlier, the project was approved in a meeting of the commission. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, joined the meeting virtually. Read: Jatiya Party to shun alliances at next election: GM Quader EC Alamgir said, “The commission earlier decided to use EVMs in 150 constituencies, in the next general election, but 1.5 lakh machines we currently have can be used in highest 70 to 80 constituencies.” So, the project was approved to procure and maintain new EVMs, he said. The Election Commission unveiled roadmap for next the general election at a function held at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday. Read: Next national election by Jan 29, 2024; EVMs to be used in 150 constituencies On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held late next year. The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July. However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election. Read AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it for talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission’s invitations while 11 parties, including BNP, rejected it.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said Awami League is in favour of voting by  Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming national election. "We are in favour of using EVM in the national election.AL has no objection if EVMs are used in  the upcoming national election," he said. Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister,  came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting organised by the Election Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Quader said the Awami League believes that the EC's acceptability, neutrality and capacity are important for holding fair and free elections. "Our party's decision is loud and clear in favour of EVMs. There is nothing to hide here. I am calling for raising the use of EVMs in the upcoming election,” he said. In his opening remarks, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, "We have discussed with more parties.  Many parties supported the use of EVM. We had no idea about EVM before. Now there is a complete idea. Many have told that they will not go to polls without EVM.”   READ: Don’t play with fire, Obaidul Quader warns BNP I will take decision after discussion with all,” he added. The meeting was attended by representatives of nine political parties, election commissioners and senior EC officials. The Election Commission called 39 political parties for discussion on using EVMs in the national election. Thirteen of the 39 registered political parties were invited to the EC office on June 19 while another 13 parties joined the discussion on June 21. 

Election will be held in three municipalities –Panchbibi and Khetlal in Joypurhat, and Dohar in Dhaka—on July 27 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Also read: EC suspends Eochia UP election in Ctg The Election Commission on Monday announced the polls schedule for the three local bodies by issuing a notification. Also read: EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is June 28, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is June 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 7.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday said fair voting using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be possible. “EVM is good, but those who will operate it are not neutral. So, the election using the EVMs will not be acceptable,” he said. Chunnu also said Jatiya Party will decide in its party forum whether it will go to the polls or not if the Election Commission decides to use the EVMs in the next general election. He was speaking as the chief guest at the conference of Jatiya Party’s 33-No ward in the city’s Mohammadpur area. Also read: EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls The Jatiya Party leader voiced concern as a quarter suddenly lodged complaints with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against 116 alems (Islamic scholars). “It’s important to find out why this quarter came up with such allegation. It’s also necessary to make an inquiry about their incomes, expenditures and wealth,” he said. Stating that 400,000 crores have been siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh from 2009 to 2016, Chunnu wanted to know why it is not being investigated. He renewed their party’s demand for publishing a list of money launderers and urged the government to take legal action against them. The Jatiya Party secretary general also alleged that the country is spending three times higher than the actual costs in the name of mega projects. “Looting is taking place in the name of development.” Also read: EVMs in national election won't be logical: GM Quader He also said there is no difference between Awami League and BNP in terms of corruption and misrule. “So, the people of the country no longer want to see Awami League and BNP in power. They now want to see the government of Jatiya Party.”

Voting in the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election ended on Sunday without report of any untoward incident. Balloting for the election started at 8am and continued till 4pm without any break. Counting of votes began shortly after the voting ended. Read: NCC polls see good voter turnout, says Returning Officer Voters exercised their franchise in a festive mood using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Long queues were seen as voters turned up at the polling stations to cast their votes braving cold weather and fear of Covid infection. Besides, returning officer Mahfuza Akter said voter turnout in NCC election is good as 40% voters exercised their franchise till noon.  “The number of voters increased after noon. Some 40% people have cast their votes in the election till now,” she told UNB on Sunday. Seven candidates are running for the post of the NCC mayor including ruling party nominee Selina Hayat Ivy, her  principal rival Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP who has been contesting as an independent candidate. Selina Hayat Ivy cast her vote at Deubhog Kalrab polling center around 9:30 am while Taimur cast his vote at Masdair Primary Government School around 10 am.

Balloting for the Narayanganj City Corporation election is underway using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on Sunday. The voting started at 8am and will continue till 4pm without any break. The electioneering officially ended on Friday midnight. READ: NCC: An unprecedented hattrick, or the mother of all upsets? Seven candidates are running for the post of the NCC mayor including ruling party nominee Selina Hayat Ivy and her principal rival Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP who has been contesting as an independent candidate. Selina Hayat Ivy cast her vote at Deubhog Kalrab polling center around 9:30 am while Taimur cast his vote at Masdair Islamia Fazil Madrasha around 10 am. 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. 

With the official campaign period set to end tonight, parts of Bagerhat district are approaching Monday’s union parishad elections buzzing with anticipation. Despite the BNP’s refusal to participate significantly reducing the competitive edge to the p0lls, the presence of Awami League rebel candidates in a number of unions – more than the Jatiya Party candidates – has meant that not all the ruling party-backed candidates can afford to take things easy. Aware of the potential for embarrassment, the AL  central command has not shied away from coming down hard against their rebel candidates. So far, the party has sacked 22 chairman candidates for mounting rebel candidacies upon failing to secure the party’s official backing. Also read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings Postponed due to Covid, the elections to 161 Union Parishad (UPs) in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, as well as to 9 municipalities, were rescheduled for  September 20.   Bagerhat district will see elections to 65 union parishads, with an electorate numbering  9,65,472 eligible to cast their vote – although a large number of them will be deprived of the opportunity even, to exercise their right to franchise.   This is because returning officers at as many as 39 of these unions have already declared the ruling party candidates as unopposed victors. In the remaining 26 unions, electronic voting machines (EVM) will be deployed for four of the UP elections, that are spread across Fakirhat, Rampal and Mongla upazilas. Bagerhat District Awami League General Secretary Bhuiyan Hemayet Uddin said that the party has taken a zero tolerance policy towards the rebel candidates – clearly the AL’s biggest, or perhaps even only headache ahead of the polls. “Already 22 have been sacked from AL, more will follow if they don’t comply,” Bhuiyan said. UNB talked separately with the chairman candidates at Lokpur Union Parishadm in Fakirhat upazila. Also read: Now state ‘backs corruption’: BNP MD Selim Reza of Awami League, Imran Sikder of Jatiya Party, and independent candidate Gazi Mohammad, all sounded optimistic of securing victory in a battle for voter’s minds. On the other hand, Sheikh Mahitur Rahman Paltan, already the chairman-elect of Karapara Union within Bagerhat Sadar thanks to an unopposed election, said that the reason behind no other candidate running for the post was their fear of certain defeat – that he at least believes to be well-founded. Talking to UNB, Bagerhat District Election Officer Farazi Benzir Ahmed said, “The Election Commission has taken all preparations to ensure a peaceful election. Police, BGB, Rab, executive magistrates and Ansar personnel will be posted at key points of the district to ensure that.”

Voting in the 5th phase election to 29 municipalities in 20 districts is underway with the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) on Sunday.