election
Final number of voters in voter list updation-2022 to be published Thursday
The final number of voters in the voter list updation-2022 will be published on Thursday marking the National Voter Day.
With this, the Election Commission (EC) is going to observe the voter day for the fifth time this year with the slogan ‘will be voter following rules and vote for the competent candidates’.
The EC chalked out several programmes to observe the day to be launched through bringing out a rally from in front of the EC Bhaban in participation with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners around 8.30am.
A discussion meeting on the importance and significance of the voter day will be held in the EC Bhaban around 4pm. CEC Kazi Habibul Awal will attend as the chief guest.
Apart from this, an enthralling cultural event is scheduled to be held on Thursday evening.
Three election officers will be honoured for discharging duties with competency and credit.
Along with the EC headquarters, the voter day will be observed in a befitting manner at all offices across the country tomorrow.
The election affairs body ‘FEMBoSA’ belonging to SAARC decided to observe the voter day on March 2 every year in 2013.
Later, a proposal was sent to the EC with the recommendation to observe the day as the National Voter Day.
The EC unanimously took the decision to mark the day every year since then.
By-polls to 6 JS seats underway amid stray incidents
Voting in the by-polls to the six parliamentary seats — left vacant after BNP MPs resigned —is going on amid some stray incidents today.
Voting began at 8:30 am and will continue 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) are being used in the by-elections. However, no CCTV cameras have been installed in the polling centers, he added.
Forty aspirants are vying in the 6 constituencies for MP post.
EVM purchasing suspended, not cancelled: EC secretary
The government of Bangladesh has decided not to proceed with purchasing 2 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) at the moment, but the procurement project has not been cancelled, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said today (January 23, 2023).
“The Planning Commission has decided to suspend the processing of the project, considering the government’s financial capacity amid the ongoing global economic crisis,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Election Commission in Dhaka.
Read more: Vote using ballot papers if EVM scheme not passed by mid-January: Commissioner Rasheda
On September 19 last year, the Election Commission approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure electronic voting machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election.
On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum of 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held early next year.
The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who did not join talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July.
Read more: EVMs: How many seats to be known by Jan
However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.
Presidential election: CEC seeks appointment with Speaker
The chief election commissioner on Sunday sought an appointment from Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury for a meeting about holding the 22nd presidential election.
Confirming the matter, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told reporters that CEC Kazi Habibul Awal communicated with her and the meeting is likely to be held this week.
“During the meeting, CEC would come up with a draft schedule for the election and he would announce the schedule as per his convenient time,” she said.
She said that the Election Commission Secretariat also contacted the Parliament Secretariat on the same day.
Also read: Presidential election within February 23 : EC secretary
There will be no need to summon a Parliament session for the election, as per the law. Rather, a meeting will be called by the CEC for electing the president by the MPs. CEC will preside over that meeting.
If there is only one candidate then that meeting will also not be required.
She said that the detailed schedule of the presidential election will be discussed in the CEC's meeting with her.
The Election Commission will declare a single candidate as the winner as per law.
Besides, EC secretary Jahangir Alam told reporters that the presidential election, due to the obligation of the law, the election must be held between January 23 and February 23. As such, the Election Commission has started its preparation.
Explaining the law, he said that elections should be held within 90 days of the end of the term of the president.
Presidential election within February 23 : EC secretary
The presidential election of Bangladesh will be held within February 23.
Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said this while talking to reporters after a meeting held at EC building on Sunday.
"The process has already started. We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date of the Chief Election Commissioner’s meeting with the Speaker," he said.
Current president Abdul Hamid cannot be elected president for another term as the country’s constitution allows a maximum of two terms for a person in the post of president.
Hamid is the only President who has been serving for two consecutive terms. His second and last tenure will expire on April 24 this year.
On Apr 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the 20th President of Bangladesh.
Read More: EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list
After the end of his first tenure, Hamid also took oath as the president on the same date in 2018 for the second term.
Lawmakers vote in the presidential election, which is supposed to be held in the House with the CEC acting as the election officer.
EU keen to send observers for upcoming general election in Bangladesh: Envoy
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday said the European Union is very interested in sending polls observers to Bangladesh during the next general election.
He also appreciated the positive attitude by the Bangladesh authorities about welcoming foreign observers.
He was talking to reporter after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other EC members at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
Read more: Foreign observers are welcome during next general election: PM Hasina tells British MPs
An 11-member EU delegation led by Whiteley had a wide ranging exchange of views with the CEC and his team on Bangladesh’s preparations for the parliamentary elections, including electoral observation. The general election is likely to be held in first week of January next year.
“Everybody wants a participatory, peaceful, and fair election and that is in everybody's interest,” he added.
Kazi Awal said it will be better if foreign observers monitor elections.
EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list
The Election Commission on Monday started receiving applications for settling the objections to the draft of the updated voter list .
The Commission informed that they will receive applications till January 31 andsettle the objections within February 7.
Read more: Voter numbers increased by 57.74 lakh in draft list: EC
The total number of voters in the country is now over 11.50 crore as the Election Commission on Sunday released a draft of the updated voter list with 57.74 lakh new voters.
The total number of voters in the final voter list published on March 2 last year was 11,32,87,010 which has increased to 11,90,61,158 this year.
The total voter growth rate this time stands at 5.10 percent.
In a letter sent by the Election Commission to the field level officials on December 11 last, everyone was instructed to send the draft list on January 15. Every year the draft list is published on January 2 but this time it did not happen.
There is a provision to update the voter list from January 2 to March 2 as per the voter list rules, EC officials said.
Read more: EC: Updated draft voter list to be published on Jan 15
According to the provision, the final list is published on March 2 after settling the objections to the draft list.
This time, the release of the draft voter list has been delayed, but the schedule of the final list will remain unchanged.
Voter numbers increased by 57.74 lakh in draft list: EC
The total number of voters in the country is now over 11.50 crore as the Election Commission released a draft of the updated voter list with by 57.74 lakh new voters.
The National Identity Card Registration Division of the Election Commission on Sunday released the draft voter list.
EC secretary Jahangir Alam briefed reporters about the draft of the updated voter list at Nirbachon Bhaban on Sunday.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-election held in a disciplined environment: CEC
The total number of voters in the final voter list published on March 2 last year was 11,32,87,010 people which has increased to 11,90,61,158 this year.
The total voter growth rate this time stands at 5.10 percent.
In the updated draft of the voter list, there are 6,03,83,122 male voters which was 5,76,89,529 last year. Besides, 5,86,77,209 female voters were listed this year which was 5,55,97,027 last time.
At the same time, 837 transgender voters have been listed which was 454 last time.
In a letter sent by the Election Commission to the field level officials on December 11 last, everyone was instructed to send the draft list on January 15. Every year the draft list is published on January 2 but this time it did not happen.
Read more: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election
There is a provision to update the voter list from January 2 to March 2 as per the voter list rules, EC officials said.
According to the provision, the final list is published on March 2 after settling the objections to the draft list.
This time, the release of the draft voter list has been delayed, but the schedule of the final list will remain unchanged.
Election Commission started the list updating work from May 20 last year.
B’baria-2 by-polls: 3 independent candidates withdraw, clearing the way for ex-BNP leader Abdus Sattar
Three independent candidates in the by-polls to Brahmanbaria-2 have withdrawn their candidacy.
The three independent candidates are: joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL and general secretary of district Sports Association Mahbubul Bari Chowdhury Montu, former joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL Md Moin Uddin Moin, and former leader of Chhatra League Shahjahan Alam Saju.
The candidates, led by district Awami League General Secretary and district Council Chairman Al Mamun Sarker, withdrew their candidacy by going to the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Returning Officer's office around 11:30 on Saturday, said Assistant Returning Officer and district Election Officer Md Zillur Rahman.
Read more: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata
There are now five candidates contesting in the by-elections, including lawyer Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, who resigned from BNP.
Four other candidates are: Jatiya Party's Abdul Hamid Bhasani, Zaker Party's Jahirul Islam Jewel, independently running JP rebel Ziaul Haque Mridha and local BNP leader Abu Asif.
About withdrawing from the by-polls, Md Moin Uddin said, “We have withdrawn due to personal reasons.”
Abdus Sattar was elected as MP from the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency five times.
On January 1, BNP removed Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan from all posts for "violating party decisions and engaging in anti-party activities".
Sattar resigned from all his posts within the party, including the Chairperson's Advisory Council, on December 31 last year.
By-polls to five parliamentary seats will be held on February 1.
The EC will conduct the by-polls to Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2.
Read more: By-polls to 5 vacant seats: AL to start distributing application forms Wednesday
On December 11 last year, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.
Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker in person.
The MPs sent their resignation through an email on December 10.
Will examine reasons behind slow voting in Rangpur city polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the election commission will examine the reasons behind the slow voting through EVM during the Rangpur City Corporation Election (RCC).
“Some problems have been reported in the Rangpur City Corporation election. We’ve got complaints of slow vote casting through EVMs (electronic voting machines),” the CEC told the reporters after a post-election meeting of Rangpur City Corporation at the Election Commission Bhaban.
“EC does not want to see such problem in future. So discussions are ongoing with all parties,” he said.
Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC
Although there had been less fingerprint problem in RCC election, the vote casting was slow due to various reasons, said the CEC.