election
Wait to know who will be the opposition: Anisul Huq
People have to wait to know who will be the opposition in the upcoming 12th parliament until the independent candidates who emerged victorious decide whether to form an alliance or remain separate, said Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq.
He made the remarks to the reporters after exchanging greetings with Awami League leaders and activists at Akhaura Municipal Muktomancha on Monday afternoon after being elected MP for the third consecutive time.
Anisul Huq said, "We will have to wait until it is clear whether the independent candidates who have secured seats in the parliament will form an alliance or they will remain separately."
Read: Brahmanbaria-4: Anisul Huq secures 3rd consecutive victory
Regarding the environment of the 12th parliamentary election held on Sunday, the law minister said people have rejected the politics of terrorism in this election.
“The people recognized the politics of development. People have given a mandate to Sheikh Hasina to continue the politics of development of the country,” said the minister.
Uncertainty looms over who will constitute the opposition in the upcoming 12th parliament as independent candidates (62) secured the majority of seats after the Awami League (222) in Sunday's parliamentary election.
Read more: Hasina govt established rule of law in the country: Anisul Huq
History will mark 7th January as black day: Jamaat
Acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Prof. Mujibur Rahman congratulated the people for rejecting the election and said people of the country and the world witnessed yet another mockery of an election without voters.
He said that the people of Bangladesh and the world witnessed yet another farcical dummy election and history will mark the 7th of January as a black day, a press release said.
Kader Siddique defeated by AL candidate Anupam Joy in Tangail-8
Jamaat Ameer said that almost all political parties, civil society, intellectuals, and people of different classes and professions of Bangladesh have been agitating for fair, free, impartial, and participatory elections under a caretaker government.
The democratic world and Bangladesh's friendly countries have expressed hope for free and participatory elections in Bangladesh. The government held a mock election on January 7, ignoring public opinion.
Salman F Rahman wins again
He said that in order to make this farcical election participatory and acceptable, the government is trying to bring voters to the polling booths by standing their party people as independent, rebellious, and dummy candidates.
Awami League's party cadres and administration continue to intimidate voters into voting. Many are threatened with death.
People rejected vote strongly: AB Party
“The people did not go to the polling stations to cast their votes, failing all the tricks of the Awami League government. Voters had no interest in farcical elections from the beginning of the election scheduled,” said Jamaat Acting Ameer.
Salman F Rahman wins again
Awami League nominated candidate for Dhaka-1 Salman Fazlur Rahman has been elected unofficially in the 12th parliamentary elections again held on Sunday.
Rahman, also adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, bagged 1,49,971 votes while his nearest rival Salma Islam from Jatiya Party secured 34,746 votes.
The voting in the 12th parliamentary election began at 8:00 am and concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
National Election: Palak wins 4th term
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, AL nominated candidate for Natore-3 constituency, has become a member of parliament for the 4th consecutive time defeating his rival by huge margins of 92,687 votes.
Palak bagged 1,35,706 votes while his nearest rival independent candidate with Eagle symbol got 43,019 votes, according to a press release.
According to the release, a total of 1,78,725 voters exercised their voting rights in the election held on Sunday.
The voting in the 12th parliamentary election began at 8:00 am and concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal claimed that Sunday's national election has been free, fair and neutral thanks to the government's political will, sincerity and cooperation.
The CEC said the voter turnout might be some 40 percent in the 12th Parliamentary election.
No pressure on voters to vote, but leaflets from ‘a party’ asking not to go, says FS quoting CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has "categorically" said there is no pressure on the voters to go to vote centres to cast vote but pressure is seen regarding distribution of leaflets urging people not to go to vote centres.
“There is no such pressure from the Election Commission, even he has no evidence of as such," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen quoted the CEC as saying during a briefing arranged for the diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Thursday.
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 says election rally attacked by AL candidate's campaigners
The CEC made remarks when one of the diplomats wanted to know his comments regarding pressure on voters to go to vote centres.
The CEC, however, gave a counter reply mentioning distribution of leaflets by a political party (BNP) which is boycotting polls and urging people not to go to vote centres.
The foreign secretary said over 50 diplomats and representatives from international organisations joined the briefing hosted by the Election Commission.
Election 2024: Armed forces deployed across the country
CEC Awal gave an update regarding preparations of January 7 polls which was followed by a question-and-answer session.
The foreign secretary said such a opportunity is rare for the foreign diplomats as national election takes place in every five years.
He hoped that the briefing will help the diplomats to let know their respective countries know about the election through their comprehensive reports.
The diplomats remain in touch with the EC and they remain updated through frequent exchanges, Masud Momen said.
Chuadanga-1: Jatiya Party candidate withdraws from election, alleging lack of cooperation from party
The diplomats are kept fully informed and that is why there were not too many questions, he said.
The foreign secretary said the international observers and journalists have started arriving in Dhaka.
They can observer polls in Dhaka and other places across the country if they feel convenient, he said.
The EC made sure that there is no deficit in terms of preparation to the polls successfully.
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 says election rally attacked by AL candidate's campaigners
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 constituency Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury’s election rally came under attack, allegedly from campaigners of the AL-nominated candidate, on Tuesday.
Dr. Ehteshamul alleged that the attackers were activists of Awami League candidate and the incumbent MP, Habibur Rahman Habib.
During the election rally in the Nayabazar area of Fenchuganj upazila, some people vandalized the rally venue.
Saleh Ahmed, member secretary of Ehteshamul's Fenchuganj upazila election steering committee, alleged that Ghilachora Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam Mona and his associates attacked their rally in the evening.
Dr Ehteshamul said, “General voters, including my campaigners, have become scared after the attack. Jealous of my popularity, my rival candidate's activists have started violent attacks. They are openly threatening my supporters.”
After the incident, he filed a complaint with the returning officer, the deputy commissioner of Sylhet, and assistant returning officer (Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer).
Habibur Rahman Habib, the AL candidate for the constituency, said, “These are false allegations. I heard about it. None of my supporters can do that. Besides, I have told my campaigners that no one should behave unfairly during the election campaign. They made these allegations to grab attention.”
Election 2024: Armed forces deployed across the country
Armed forces were deployed across the country this morning, ahead of the national election slated for January 7.
Armed forces will remain deployed from January 3 to January 10 to ensure peace and order before, during, and after the election day, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release on Tuesday (January 02, 2024).
The armed forces are being deployed to assist the local civil administration in holding a free, fair, and peaceful election in Bangladesh as per Section 126 of the constitution's "In Aid to the Civil Power".
Read more: Chuadanga-1: Jatiya Party candidate withdraws from election, alleging lack of cooperation from party
A troop of army was seen patrolling in Dhaka’s Banani area in the morning.
Upon request from the returning officers concerned and through coordination with stakeholders, the area-base deployment has been completed, said the ISPR.
Members of Bangladesh Army have been assigned in 62 districts, while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) alone will perform duty in 45 upazilas.
Chuadanga-1: Jatiya Party candidate withdraws from election, alleging lack of cooperation from party
Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate for Chuadanga-1 constituency, Advocate Sohrab Hossain, has withdrawn his candidacy from the 12th parliamentary election race, alleging lack of cooperation from his party and coordination.
He is the president of Chuadanga district unit of Jatiya Party.
Expressing frustration, the Jatiya Party leader said, “You know how this year's voting is going to be held. Our party chairman and secretary general do not communicate with us. They just left us after giving nominations.”
Sohrab Hossain also alleged that the party is not providing any expenses for the election.
Read: Habiganj-2: JaPa candidate withdraws from election citing 'lack of fair environment'
“They are busy with the 26 who are there. And 257 of us are ignored. This year's election is different. No one talks without money,” he added.
Saying that the "boat" and independent candidates are spending crores, the Jatiya Party leader said, “I spent as much as I had. Now I can't afford it anymore. So I stepped aside.”
In the 12th parliamentary election, 15 candidates are contesting for two seats in Chuadanga. Of them, six are contesting in Chuadanga-1 constituency.
Read: Mahi’s election camp torched: UP chairman among 5 sued
Kurigram-4 Jatiya Party candidate Ruhul Amin hospitalised
Ruhul Amin, Jatiya Party nominated candidate for Kurigram-4 seat and its presidium member, has been hospitalised following a heart attack.
He was first admitted to Rowmari Upazila Health Complex after he fell ill early Monday.
Later, he was shifted to the National Heart Institute for better treatment.
Now he is receiving treatment at the Coronary care unit (CCU) of the hospital, his nephew Rana Parvez confirmed.
Asaduzzaman, health and family planning officer of Rowmari Upazila Health Complex, said that when he was brought to the hospital around 7:30 in the morning, his health was first checked.
"We found his heart problem after getting the ECG report," he said.
Later he was shifted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. "From there he was taken to Dhaka."
Mahi’s election camp torched: UP chairman among 5 sued
A case was filed against five supporters of AL-backed candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury including an UP chairman for setting fire to an election camp of Dhallywood actress Mahiya Mahi on Sunday night.
Belal Uddin Sohel, chairman of Godagari's Deopara Union Parishad and treasurer of Upazila Jubo League, has been made the main accused in the case.
Also read: Actress Mahi gets 'truck' as electoral symbol for independent run in Rajshahi-1
The other accused are - Md. Rizwan, Ratan Ali, Salman Feroz Faisal and Mamunur Rashid alias Babu.
Besides, four or five unidentified people have been accused in the case.
Mahi's cousin Zahidul Islam lodged a complaint at Godagari police station on Sunday night.
Earlier, an election camp of Mahi was burnt in Bhagail village of Deopara union late on Sunday night.
Denying the allegation, UP Chairman Belal Uddin Sohel said they themselves burnt their election camps and blamed us. “They are doing this to create chaos”, he added.
Also read: 12th JS Election: Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Godagari police station Abdul Matin said they have started the investigation.
“Action will be taken if the accused are found guilty”, he added.
Dhallywood’s popular actress Mahiya Mahi is contesting the 12th parliamentary elections as an independent candidate with electoral symbol truck.
Awami League nominated candidate for this constituency is three times MP Omar Faruk Chowdhury.