Election
Jan 7 polls: Aspirants can appeal before EC against RO’s decisions from Tuesday
Aspirants of the 12th parliamentary election can appeal before the Election Commission from Tuesday, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over both rejection or acceptance of nomination papers.
The Election Commission has already installed 10 booths in Nirbachan Bhavan in Dhaka to receive the appeals from the aspirants till December 09.
Also read: 12th parliamentary elections: EC approves transfer of 47 UNOs
Meanwhile, the returning officers on Monday completed scrutiny of nomination papers submitted by the aspirants in 300 constituencies to run in the upcoming national election slated for January 07.
EC Deputy Secretary Md Abdul Salam on Monday said the appeals will be received from 10:30am to 4pm daily till December 09. The appeals will be disposed of from December 10 to December 15. The EC will hear and dispose of some 100 appeals a day, he said.
In case of hearing, the EC will prioritise the appeals filed against the rejection of nominations.
Also read: National polls: Affidavits show Momen, Imran Ahmed’s assets rise
A total of 2,712 aspirants – 747 independent hopefuls and 1965 ones from 29 registered political parties- submitted nomination papers in the country’s 300 constituencies by November 30 to contest the upcoming general election.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the returning officers will distribute electoral symbols among the contenders on December 18.
The candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.
Also read: 53 candidates submit nomination forms in six constituencies of Khulna
National polls: Affidavits show Momen, Imran Ahmed’s assets rise
Affidavits submitted to the Election Commission by the candidates in the six constituencies of Sylhet have revealed that the assets of two heavyweight candidates and current ministers- Dr AK Abdul Momen and Imran Ahmed- have increased compared to 2018.
Awami League candidate for Sylhet-6 constituency and former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid’s annual income also increased during the period.
Dr AK Abdul Momen, the Awami League candidate for Sylhet-1 constituency and incumbent Foreign Minister, has shown his movable assets increased by TK3.93 crore, while his annual income has decreased by TK 9.70 lakh and his immovable property has also increased TK57.51 lakh.
Momen has listed ‘politics’ and ‘others’ as his professions in the affidavit.
Huge number of votes will be cast in upcoming election, Momen says after submitting nomination paper
Annual income of Imran Ahmed, the Awami League candidate for Sylhet-4 constituency and incumbent Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, has increased by Tk 14.88 lakh and his movable assets have increased by TK4.52 crore.
His annual income, as shown in the affidavit, is TK 6.63 lakh.
His wife's movable assets have been listed as 5.76 crore in the affidavit. In the affidavit submitted during the 11th parliament election, the value of his wife's immovable and movable assets was 2.74 crore. His wife's wealth has increased by 3.3 crore.
EC’s show-causes for violating electoral code are a joke on the people: Rizvi
Imran Ahmed holds a BA Hons degree. He is a tea trader and consultant by profession, according to the affidavit.
Awami League candidate for Sylhet-6 constituency and former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid’s annual income increased to Tk 50.30 lakh from Tk 32.10 lakh.
His movable assets decreased to Tk 1.9 crore from Tk 2.16 crore, while his immovable assets decreased to Tk 22.28 lakh from Tk 66.48 lakh, according to affidavit he submitted to the EC.
He holds a BA degree. He has listed his career as a political activist, including his roles as a member of parliament, chairman of standing committee on LGRD Ministry.
Fakhrul files bail petition at High Court
Ctg-4 constituency: Nomination papers of 4 candidates rejected
Nomination papers of four candidates out of nine submitted for Chattogram-4 constituency to compete in the forthcoming 12th national election were rejected during scrutiniztion on Sunday.
Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) KM Rafiqul Islam, also assistant returning officer, said five nomination papers including that of Awami League-nominated candidate were declared valid during the scrutiniztion.
Those nomination forms declared valid are Awami League-nominated candidate SM Al Mamun, Jatiya Party’s Didarul Kabir, Trinomul BNP’s Khokan Chowdhury, Islamic Front’s Md Mozammel Hossain and Bangladesh Congress’s Shahidul Islam Chowdhury.
Hero Alom’s nomination cancelled over multiple errors
On the other hand, those nomination papers of current lawmaker Didarul Alam, who submitted form as an independent candidate, Awami League leaders Salauddin (Independent), Lion Mohammad Imran (Independent) and BNF candidate Mohammad Akhter Hossain were rejected.
The ARO said the list of one percent public mandate submitted by independent candidates Salauddin and Mohammad Imran were incomplete and wrong respectively while the BNF candidate didn’t submit tax return.
AL candidate's nomination for Cox’s Bazar-1 rejected over loan default
Moreover, the current MP didn’t submit any document in favour of party post, he said.
Meanwhile, current MP Didarul Alam has announced that he will not contest the election.
EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
Hero Alom’s nomination cancelled over multiple errors
The nomination paper of popular Youtuber Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alom, who submitted it from Bangladesh Congress Party for Bogura-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram) constituency, has been cancelled for various reasons.
Returning Officer and Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Islam rejected his nomination paper on Sunday for not signing the affidavit, submitting income tax returns, and not filling out the nomination paper properly.
Besides, the nomination papers of 10 more candidates in four constituencies of the district were cancelled due to various errors.
AL candidate's nomination for Cox’s Bazar-1 rejected over loan default
Regarding the cancellation of nomination papers, Hero Alam said, "My nomination papers are cancelled every year. It doesn't matter. ”
Earlier, Hero Alom took part in the by-election of Dhaka-17 constituency held in July this year. He was also an independent candidate in the by-elections of Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Bogura-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram) constituencies in February.
Hero Alom contested for the Bogura-4 constituency in 11th parliamentary election, held on December 30, 2018.
However, he withdrew from the election, alleging irregularities in the middle of the vote.
On the first day of scrutinising nomination papers for Bogura-4 constituency, four out of seven seats in the district were selected.
EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
District Senior Election Officer Mahmud Hasan said nomination papers for the other three constituencies will be scrutinised on Monday.
After the selection, Returning Officer Saiful Islam said, "If anyone wants to appeal against my decision, they will have to apply to the Election Commission within December 5-9."
Taking action for poll-related violence or chaos is EC’s responsibility : Quader
AL candidate's nomination for Cox’s Bazar-1 rejected over loan default
The nomination papers of Awami League candidate for Cox's Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency, Salahuddin Ahmed, have been rejected due to him defaulting on a loan.
District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Shahin Imran rejected Salahuddin’s nomination paper around 10 am today.
Also read: MPs don't need to resign before contesting as independent candidates: EC
According to the district returning officer's office, his nomination was cancelled due to him defaulting on a loan worth Tk 47 crore.
Salahuddin Ahmed and other directors of ‘Fish Preservers’ secured a loan of approximately Tk 50 crore from the Laldighi branch of Janata Bank in Cox's Bazar, using the company as collateral. The loan was later defaulted on.
Despite subsequent changes in the company's board of directors, Salahuddin Ahmed remains a guarantor for the loan as per the bank's terms.
Also read: EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
According to the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report of Bangladesh Bank, Salahuddin Ahmed was a loan defaulter on the day of submission of nomination papers on November 30, which made his nomination invalid according to the law.
While speaking to journalists in this regard, Salahuddin Ahmed said, "Everything regarding the defaulted loan was resolved through the court. I still don't understand why my nomination was rejected. I will appeal to the Election Commission in this regard.”
Also read: Taking action for poll-related violence or chaos is EC’s responsibility : Quader
Taking action for poll-related violence or chaos is EC’s responsibility : Quader
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.
EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
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.”
53 candidates submit nomination forms in six constituencies of Khulna
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 Khilafat Rabbani, Nezam-e-Islami meet PM, discuss polls
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
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.