Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to take action for any violence or chaos centring the national election. “Awami League has confidence in the decisions of the Election Commission,” he said at a press briefing at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office in the capital. EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said BNP could not distract people from the election by hartal, blockade and arson terrorism. “People have become completely election-oriented. There will be a record voter turnout in this election, he said. 53 candidates submit nomination forms in six constituencies of Khulna “BNP's ill efforts to make the election questionable and prevent it are still continuing. The people of Bangladesh are united under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. That's why they're looking forward to cast vote,” said the AL leader. The leaders and activists of the BNP are frustrated and they have lost confidence, he said adding that the people of the country cannot be distracted from the election by hatching conspiracies. Leaders of Khilafat Rabbani, Nezam-e-Islami meet PM, discuss polls Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and other central leaders were present at the press briefing.

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman from Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency, over attacking journalists after filing nomination papers in Chattogram. The returning officer assured to take action after going through the CCTV footage of the incident. The Election Commission has formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by a joint district judge to investigate the incident. AL-nominated candidate physically harasses 2 journalists  in Ctg “We are investigating the incident and will take action,” Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman told reporters on Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the AL candidate for Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency, punched and hit journalists when he was asked about violating electoral code of conduct while submitting his nomination papers. Soon after, his supporters attacked journalists and vandalised cameras, as well as tearing down microphone wires. Four to five journalists, including Independent Television journalist Rakib Uddin and Ekattor TV journalist Pranabesh Chakraborty, were injured and assaulted. Soon after the incident, media persons held a rally in front of the returning officer's office to protest the attack. They demanded justice for the incident. Tapan Chakraborty, president of Chattogram Union of Journalists, said “The candidate will have to apologise within 24 hours. He does controversial things everywhere.”

Fifty-three candidates have submitted nomination papers to contest for six seats in Khulna district in the upcoming 12th national election. Upcoming national election is unlikely to be participatory: TIB Khulna Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Khandaker Yasir Arefin said a total of 59 individuals collected nomination papers to become candidates, and out of them, 53 have submitted their nomination papers. 12th parliamentary election: BNM fields candidates in 82 seats Among the 53 candidates, six are running for Khulna-1, nine for Khulna-2, five for Khulna-3, 14 for Khulna-4, seven for Khulna-5, and 12 are contesting for Khulna-6 constituency in the election. National Election:  Deadline for nomination submission ends

Leaders of the Khilafat Rabbani Bangladesh and the Nezam-e-Islami Party met with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday. They discussed various issues involving upcoming national elections scheduled to be held on January 7. Also read: 14 leaders from 9 parties meet PM Sheikh Hasina to discuss polls Mufti Faizul Haque Jalalabadi and Maulana Anwarul Haque led their respective parties at the PM’s official residence Ganabhaban. Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said that during the meeting the leaders discussed the overall issues of the national elections with the premier. Sheikh Hasina highlighted various steps taken to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election, and expected everyone's spontaneous participation in the election. Also read: BNP Vice chairman Shahjahan Omar submits nomination for Jhalakathi-1 as AL candidate The leaders appreciated the steps taken by the PM to make the upcoming parliamentary elections acceptable to all. They also praised the comprehensive development of Bangladesh under the leadership of the prime minister. Also read: EU wants to see credible, participatory elections in Bangladesh

The European Union on Wednesday expressed hope that Bangladesh will hold a democratic, credible, peaceful and participatory elections. “We hope to see a democratic, credible, peaceful and participatory elections,”  EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley said. Also read: EU Missions holding meeting with EC He was talking to reporters after leading a 10-member delegation of European Union’s Missions in Bangladesh at a  meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and his colleagues at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. The diplomats of seven Dhaka-based EU member states were present. The EU ambassador said they had a good, open and extensive discussion with the Election Commission over the electoral preparations. “We've a very wide range of exchange on preparation to the election,”  he said. Also read: EU technical team in Dhaka to monitor election process Later, the Chief Election Commissioner talked to reporters and said they are trying their best to ensure a free, fair, peaceful and credible election. “As we did in the past, we clearly told them (EU team) that we continue our best efforts so that the election would be free, fair, peaceful and credible,” he said. He said the EC has already come a long way in the preparations for January 7 parliamentary vote.

A 10-member delegation of European Union’s Missions in Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon sat in a meeting with the Election Commission ahead of the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7 next year. EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley is leading the EU team in the meeting that began at 3:00pm at Nirbachan Bhaban here in the city. Also read: EU technical team in Dhaka to monitor election process Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other election commissioners are present in the meeting. In the meeting, the EU delegation is expected to talk about the upcoming general election. Also read: Nomination submission deadline looms at EC The delegation members include Dr. Bernd Spanier, deputy head of mission, EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Sebastian Riger-Brown, political officer, EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg Von Linde, Spanish Ambassador Francisco de Asís Benítez Salas, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands Irma van Dueren, Ambassador of Denmark Christian Brix Møller, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy Gillaume Audren de Kerdrel, Deputy Head of Mission, Chargé d'Affaires at Embassy of Germany Jan Janowski.

The incumbent Members of Parliament who want to run as independent candidates do not need to resign from their positions, the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday. Nomination submission deadline looms at EC The EC clarified the issue in a press release on Wednesday after Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana said current MPs who want to run as independent candidates must step down from their current positions - a statement that created confusion in political arena. Now CEC says election can be rescheduled if BNP decides to join Independent candidates must submit their nomination papers along with a list of signatures from 1% of the total voters in their constituencies, said the release. However, if they have been a Member of Parliament before, they do not need to submit this list, said the release. 7 inc. Law Minister seek AL nomination from Brahmanbaria-4 constituency

The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the 12th general election will end on November 30. According to the Election Commission, nomination seekers can collect the forms from returning or assistant returning officers and submit it within 5 pm tomorrow The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted by December 1-4, and the final date for withdrawing candidacy is December 17, according to the EC announced schedule. Nomination seekers for the first time can submit their forms online while the Election Commission (EC) inaugurated the “Online Nomination Submission System (ONSS) and Smart Election Management App” on November 12. The contestants could not open campaigns 21 days before the election but they were allowed to hold meetings. The commission formed 300 election probe committees for the first time. According to EC’s factsheet, a total of 5,864,430 new voters were enlisted in the country’s voter list while of the total voters, 60,445,724 are male and 58,704,879 are female. Besides, 837 transgender voters were incorporated under the identity of the third gender in the updated roll. The 12th parliamentary election is scheduled to be held across the country on December 30.

The next general election can be rescheduled if BNP wants to join the election, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Sunday. “We can’t say to postpone the election but our election commissioners said the election can be rescheduled if BNP wants to participate in the election,” he said while talking to reporters at the media centre of the Nirbachan Bhaban. Despite repeated requests to join the election, BNP refused, he said.  Mashrafe, Shakib, get Awami League nominations for 12th National Parliament Election “Still there is time and it could be easier for us through compromise. I hope it will be a fortune for the whole nation if they (BNP) come to the election as we want a participatory election,” said the CEC. AL picks actor Ferdous for Dhaka-10 They (BNP) will be accommodated after rescheduling the election, he said adding “We’ll do what should be better for the sake of election and we will do everything as per our jurisdiction.” India has taken position against people of Bangladesh by supporting Hasina: Rizvi      

A total of 61 aspirants in 6 parliamentary constituencies of Brahmanbaria district have collected nomination forms of the ruling Awami League to contest the 12th parliamentary election to be held on January 7. If ‘one party’ joins election, may consider pushing back polls: EC Anisur Of these, seven aspirants including Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq bought nomination forms for Brahmanbaria-4 (Kasba-Akhaura) constituency, AL sources said. Other contestants of this constituency are former lawmaker Advocate Md Shah Alam, Bangladesh Awami League Sub-Committee on Industry and Commerce member AKM Badiul Alam, Former Science and Technology Secretary of Central Jubo League Shyamal Kumar Roy, General Secretary of India-Bangladesh Friendship Association Narayan Saha Moni, District Jubo League leader Rashidur Reza Taslim and Kasba Upazila Jubo League leader Md Lutfur Rahman. Earlier on Nov 18, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the sale of nomination papers at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. US wants to see the election carried out peacefully: State Dept Spokesperson CEC Kazi Habibul Awal announced that the national election will be held on January 7.