United News of Bangladesh

Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, who tendered resignation, on Thursday proposed holding the general election in phases under a non-partisan caretaker government to achieve the desired goal. He also proposed holding the party-wise proportional representation election and ensuring the optimum use of technology in the election. Habibul Awal came up with a number of proposals while he was announcing his and other election commissioners’ resignation at a press conference in the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. He said they think it is their duty to place some proposals in light of their experience, knowledge and understanding, gleaned from the present and past, for the consideration of the government in future. Placing the first proposal, he said, “Bangladesh can be an ideal field for proportional representation (party-based) elections due to the homogeneity of the population of Bangladesh.” The (national) election can be held in four or eight phases with a 3-5-day gap between the two phases, which will be easy and helpful and for electoral management, the outgoing CEC said in the second proposal. Raising the third proposal, he said it will be better if the optimized use of technology can be ensured in the electoral process, continuing the online nomination submission system introduced by them. In the final proposal, Habibul Awal said if each general election is held under a non-partisan caretaker government, the goal will be achieved.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday decided to investigate former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, former state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali and former member of parliament ( MP) Akhtaruzzaman Babu for alleged corruption. ACC spokesperson told UNB that the decision to investigate them has been issued officially. The primary investigation of ACC intelligence found that Nuruzzaman Ahmed was engaged in recruitment trade, collection of government grant money presenting fake patients, and collection of bills without training during the Corona. He also established Karimpur Noorjahan-Samsunnahar Mother and Child Specialized Hospital which is named after his mother abusing his power. The money of the development project was embezzled through abuse of power, various irregularities and corruption in his own name, and his wife and family. In addition, the commission has decided to open a public investigation, it added. Mahbub Ali, former MP from Habiganj-4 and state minister, amassed huge money by creating a syndicate in the name of his relatives in the civil aviation and tourism sector. On the other hand, Akhtaruzzaman Babu engaged in various corruption and immoral activities, including various irregularities and corruption, despite being a Member of Parliament. He managed work orders from various departments including Local Government Department, Directorate of Health for his own contractor company M/s Zaman Enterprises violating the laws of the country. ACC also collected the information of assets worth huge money which is available in the name of wife and own children, including the purchase of houses and flats in various places including the capital.

Hundreds of students and people have gathered on Dhaka University campus to join the “Shaheedi March”  announced  by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement to honour the martyrs of the mass upsurge and to mark the one month of the fall of Sheikh Hasina government. People from all walks of life started to throng there around 2:30 pm. They were seen holding the national flag and chanting various slogans commemorating  the sacrifice of martyr Abu Sayed and many others. One month since fall of Hasina govt: “Shaheedi March” today in honour of martyrs The central march will begin from the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University. The event aims to mobilize students and the public across the country in a show of solidarity and remembrance. Long March to Dambur Dam Friday, demands removal of one-way dams Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, made the announcement at a press conference held at the TSC auditorium of Dhaka University on Wednesday.

Dr SMA Faiz, former professor of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment of Dhaka University, has been appointed as the chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC).The Education Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Thursday. UGC closes all public, private universities indefinitelyDr Faiz, also the former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University and former Chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission, was appointed for four years and he will be entitled with all facilities including salary, allowances and other benefits according to the rules of the commission.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a notification reducing import duty on onion, potato and fertilizer , aiming to ease imports and increase the supply of these goods. The import duty on pesticides has been reduced to 5% from 25%, and all regulatory duties and value-added taxes (VAT) on pesticides have been withdrawn, according to a press release. Additionally, the import duty on potatoes has been slashed to 15% from 25%, and the existing 3% regulatory duty has been completely withdrawn. The 5% regulatory duty on onion import has also been completely withdrawn. Considering the overall situation, important stakeholders and the concerned ministry requested the NBR to take measures to reduce the prices of essential commodities like pesticides, potatoes and onions. As the reduction of import duty may discourage local farmers, the reduced import duties will remain effective only temporarily, until November 30, 2024. The NBR is optimistic that these measures will help keep the market prices of these goods at a reasonable level and it said the incentive for local farmers will continue.  

Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, who tendered resignation, on Thursday said the last general election drew controversy logically as it was not an inclusive one. “Since the election was not inclusive in terms of participation of the political parties, it has been controversial. It is correct and logical,” he said adding that his commission conducted elections and by-elections in a total of 318 constituencies. The CEC made the remarks during the announcement of the resignation of his and other election commissioners at a press conference in the Nirbachon Bhaban in the city. He said since it was actually a one-party election, there was no need for vote-rigging and exercising influence from the government-level.  “The election was held within the party. It was within not between (the parties),” said Kazi Habibul Awal.But in the 53-year history of Bangladesh, there is no instance that any election commission voluntarily resigned, canceling an election by ignoring the constitution, he said. The CEC said the Commission has conducted elections (including by-polls) in 992 Union Parishads, 496 Upazila Parishads, 71 Zilla Parishads, 90 municipalities, and 16 City Corporations in the last two years. “There was no widespread controversy or criticism about the integrity, completeness, and impartiality of the elections as in the past,” he claimed. Habibul Awal said his commission has tried to arrange all the elections with caution, considering the disputed and questionable matters in all past elections since 1973, including the 2008, 2014 and 2018 polls.

Today marks one month since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in a student-led mass upsurge, and the Anti-discrimination Student Movement announced a nationwide event titled “Shaheedi March” to honour the martyrs of the uprising. The central march will begin at 3 pm on Thursday from the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University. The event aims to mobilize students and the public across the country in a show of solidarity and remembrance. Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, made the announcement at a press conference held at the TSC auditorium of Dhaka University on Wednesday. He called on students to actively participate in the march to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the movement. The protests started centring reforming quota system in government jobs and it escalated on July 16 when clashes between security forces and pro-government activists and students turned violent. The Supreme Court intervened to roll back the quota decision, but the unrest continued. A renewed wave of anti-government demonstrations saw violent clashes and killing of students and general people by law enforcement agencies that left over 800 people dead and many injured. Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position on August 5, 2024. Shortly after her resignation, Hasina, accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana, left Dhaka via helicopter.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday paid tribute to the martyred members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in the Great War of Independence by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban inside the army headquarters. Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hassan welcomed Chief Adviser Prof Yunus when he arrived at Shikha Anirban. After laying the wreath, the Chief Adviser signed the visitor’s book kept at Shikha Anirban with his comments, according to an ISPR media release. After laying wreath at Shikha Anirban, the Chief Adviser spent his first working day at his own office in the Armed Forces Division. On his arrival at the Armed Forces Division, the Chief Adviser was received by the Principal Staff Officer and Directors General of the Armed Forces Division. After that the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force paid a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at his office. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defense Affairs Lieutenant General (Retd) Abdul Hafiz was present.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thundershowers in eight divisions including Dhaka in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions,” said a regular bulletin of Met office. BMD forecasts light to moderate rain across country in next 24hr Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Besides, a low pressure area has formed over Westcentral Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay. The axis of monsoon troughs runs through Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across northern part of Bangladesh. Rains likely to drench country in 24hrs: BMD Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay.

Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday announced the resignation of the five-member commission. The CEC made the announcement at a press conference in the Nirbachon Bhaban this noon a month after the fall of the Awami League government in the face of a student-led mass upsurge. The EC was formed during the AL regime. “In this changed situation in the country, I and other commissioners have decided to step down. We’re handing over our resignation letters to the EC Secretary to send these to the President,” said the CEC. He read out a written statement and left the press conference, not responding to any question from reporters. Two election commissioners Md Alamgir and Md Ahsan Habib Khan were present, but other two commissioners Rashida Sultana and Anisur Rahman were not present at the press conference. A group of people were demonstrating against the commission outside the Nirbachan Bhaban during the announcement of their resignation. They were seen chanting different slogans against the outgoing election commission. The army personnel took position inside and outside the Nirbachan Bhaban. The Kazi Habibul Awal-led election commission started it five-tenure on February 27, 2022 and conducted the 12th parliamentary election and many local body elections. Election can be held in phases under nonpartisan caretaker government: Outgoing CEC Kazi Habibul Awal proposed holding the general election in phases under a non-partisan caretaker government to achieve the desired goal. He also proposed holding the party-wise proportional representation election and ensuring the optimum use of technology in the election. He said they think it is their duty to place some proposals in light of their experience, knowledge and understanding, gleaned from the present and past, for the consideration of the government in future. Placing the first proposal, he said, “Bangladesh can be an ideal field for proportional representation (party-based) elections due to the homogeneity of the population of Bangladesh.” The (national) election can be held in four or eight phases with a 3-5-day gap between the two phases, which will be easy and helpful and for electoral management, the outgoing CEC said in the second proposal. Raising the third proposal, he said it will be better if the optimized use of technology can be ensured in the electoral process, continuing the online nomination submission system introduced by them. In the final proposal, Habibul Awal said if each general election is held under a non-partisan caretaker government, the goal will be achieved. Last general election was controversial since it was not inclusive: Outgoing CEC The outgoing CEC said the last general election drew controversy logically as it was not an inclusive one. “Since the election was not inclusive in terms of participation of the political parties, it has been controversial. It is correct and logical,” he said, adding that his commission conducted elections and by-elections in a total of 318 constituencies. He said since it was actually a one-party election, there was no need for vote-rigging and exercising influence from the government-level. “The election was held within the party. It was within not between (the parties),” said Kazi Habibul Awal.But in the 53-year history of Bangladesh, there is no instance that any election commission voluntarily resigned, canceling an election by ignoring the constitution, he said. The CEC said the Commission has conducted elections (including by-polls) in 992 Union Parishads, 496 Upazila Parishads, 71 Zilla Parishads, 90 municipalities, and 16 City Corporations in the last two years. “There was no widespread controversy or criticism about the integrity, completeness, and impartiality of the elections as in the past,” he claimed. Habibul Awal said his commission has tried to arrange all the elections with caution, considering the disputed and questionable matters in all past elections since 1973, including the 2008, 2014 and 2018 polls. “The members of the commission have performed their duties following the constitution,” he said, recalling with gratitude that his commission got the necessary cooperation from media, administration, law enforcement, armed forces and others. Focusing on the country’s election history, he said his commission members have carried out the responsibility following the constitution. Citing that conducting elections is a very difficult task, the outgoing CEC said all faults or liabilities for failure to hold credible elections are given solely on the shoulders of the Election Commission. “A commission may be either dishonest or biased. But all commissions can’t be dishonest or biased all the times. The commission may be unable to make an election flawless and credible for various reasons,” he said. He said they believe that free and impartial elections freed from black money, muscle power, influence of administration and police won’t be ensure by only reshuffling the election commission. Habibul Awal said fundamental reforms in the electoral system would be required. “Changes will be required in political culture and behavior and especially in the behavior of candidates,” he said. With the announcement, the EC led by Habibul Awal broke silence for the first time since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted on August 5. It didn’t take any initiative to conduct any local body election in the last one month. However, the CEC wrote an article in a Bengali daily on August 24 claiming that the Election Commission is in a crisis amid the successful post-revolution constitutional situation. The current commission drew strong criticism from various quarters including BNP and other political parties for holding the lopsided general election on January 7, 2024, which created the way for Awami League to go to power for the fourth consecutive term. Different local body elections held under his commission were also questioned by different political parties. On February 27, 2022, former secretary Kazi Habibul Awal took the charge of the Chief Election Commissioner, while four others -- former district and sessions judge Rashida Sultana, Brig Gen (retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan, and former secretaries Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman, took the charges as election commissioners. The current commission was constituted through a search committee for the first time under a law mandated by the constitution. The search committee held a series of meetings with eminent citizens and civil society representatives and sought names from the registered political parties for the posts. A number of political parties including Awami League gave the names, but BNP and some other political parties didn’t send any name to the search committee.