Dhaka
Election 2024: AL candidate supporter stabbed dead in Munshiganj
A supporter of the Awami League candidate was stabbed to death allegedly by supporters of the independent candidate at Tengor in Mirkadim of Munshiganj’s Sadar upazila this meeting.
The deceased was identified as Md Zillur, 42, a supporter of Awami League-backed candidate Mrinal Kanti Das of Munshiganj-3 constituency.
Quoting witnesses, Aslam Khan, superintendent of Munshiganj Police, said supporters of independent candidate Foysal Biplab attacked Zillur and stabbed him with a sharp weapon around 9:45 am, leaving him dead.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
A tense situation was prevailing in the area following the attack.
Election 2024: BNP activists try to bar voters, clash with police in Ctg’s Chandgaon area
A clash broke out between police and BNP activists in the Chandgaon area of Chattogram city this morning after leaders and activists of the opposition party tried to bar voters from casting their votes.
The clash broke out around 9 am, an hour after voting for the 12th parliamentary election began.
Also read: Election 2024: Voting at Narsingdi-4 polling centre cancelled over alleged irregularities
However, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahidul Kabir said that BNP leaders and activists barred voters from casting their votes in Chandgaon area.
On information, police rushed to the spot and chased them. BNP leaders and activists then began hurling brickbats at the police.
Members of law enforcement agencies are currently working to maintain law and order in the area, said OC Jahidul.
Also read: 12th Parliamentary Election: Voting begins amid opposition boycott
Election 2024: Crude bomb blast at Jashore polling centre injures 1
Unidentified miscreants hurled a crude bomb at a polling centre in Jashore-3 constituency.
The incident happened at 7:15 am this morning at Shankarpur Secondary School polling centre in the constituency.
Assistant Platoon Commander of Bangladesh Ansar, Maruf Hossain, who was in charge of the polling centre security, was injured in the explosion.
Other law enforcers took him to Jashore General Hospital for treatment.
As per eyewitnesses, Maruf stood on the first-floor balcony of the school when unidentified miscreants approached from the school's east side, hurled a crude bomb, and quickly fled.
The crude bomb landed on the railing of the second floor of the school and then exploded.
On information, Kotwali Police Station and the mobile striking team of the police in charge of maintaining security during the election visited the spot and collected samples of the exploded parts of the crude bomb.
However, no one was arrested in connection with the incident.
Jashore Additional Superintendent of Police, Belal Hossain, could not be reached for comments regarding the matter.
Election 2024: PM Hasina casts her ballot, confident about winning
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon the citizens to exercise their right to vote saying that a beautiful and conducive environment has been created for the polls.
“Conducive environment has been established. Your vote is very valuable. We fought a lot for the right to vote and I hope that all the people of the country will come to vote at the polling centres. Bangladesh will continue its democratic trend,” she said emerging from casting her vote at Dhaka City College centre.
Also read: Election 2024: Voting at Narsingdi-4 polling centre cancelled over alleged irregularities
She expressed gratitude to the people for being able to conduct the election today amid many obstacles and hurdles.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, said that there were so many obstacles and hurdles, but the people of the country have been cautious about their voting rights, and election was urgently necessary.
“Because after five years there will be an election and people will cast their votes freely and we have been able to create that environment. Although here BNP-Jamaat alliance has carried out arson attacks and other destructive activities,” she said.
She also mentioned that BNP-Jamaat alliance does not believe in democracy. They do not want welfare of the people of the country also, even they do not want the continuation of the democratic process.
“People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although BNP Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents including arson attacks,” she said.
Election 2024: Voting at Narsingdi-4 polling centre cancelled over alleged irregularities
Voting at a polling centre in Narsingdi-4 constituency (Monohardi-Belabo) has been cancelled due to allegations of irregularities.
Voting at Ibrahimpur Government Primary School in Sallabad union of Belabo upazila was cancelled at 8:40 am, shortly after voting began today, said District Returning Officer Dr Badiul Alam.
Also read: PM votes in Dhaka
The returning officer stated that the voting was cancelled due to allegations of ballot-stuffing.
However, the exact number of stuffed ballots could not be immediately confirmed.
Voting for the 12th parliamentary election began this morning with the ruling Awami League set for a historic fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott.
Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
Also read: 12th Parliamentary Election: Voting begins amid opposition boycott
PM votes in Dhaka
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College in the capital on Sunday morning as voting in the 12th national parliamentary election opened at 8:00 am across the country.
She came at the polling centre before 7:55am amid tight security.
Putul also voted there.
Also read: Voting for 12th parliamentary election begins amid opposition boycott
Dhaka City College centre falls under Dhaka-10 constituency comprising Dhanmondi, Hazaribagh, New Market and Kalabagan police stations.
Film actor Ferdous Ahmed is contesting the polls with the Awami League ticket from the constituency.
The Prime Minister arrived at the polling centre with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, daughter Saima Wazed and Sheikh Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq at 7:55 in the morning.
Ferdous Ahmed welcomed the Prime Minister at the polling centre.
12th Parliamentary Election: Voting begins amid opposition boycott
Voting for the 12th parliamentary election began this morning with the ruling Awami League victory set for a historic fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott.
Voting began at 8am and will continue till 4 pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College in the capital this morning.
Voting in Naogaon-2 constituency has been postponed following the death of an independent contender, according to the Election Commission.
Bad blood will linger between Dhaka and the West but Hasina’s return will be viewed more positively in the region: South Asia policy analyst Kugelman
With the opposition BNP boycotting the January 7 polls, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party, Awami League, are all but guaranteed a fourth consecutive term.
Five countries in South Asia will hold elections this year, and the first — in Bangladesh on Sunday (January 7) — features the least uncertainty.
Many Western countries value their trade ties with Bangladesh, given its powerful garment industry, and perceive it as a strategically significant state situated in the heart of the Indo-Pacific.
PM Hasina to address election rally in Narayanganj Thursday
But they cannot rule out punitive post-election steps, including trade sanctions. Either way, bad blood between Dhaka and the West — especially Washington — will certainly linger post-election, according to Foreign Policy’s South Asia Brief by Michael Kugelman.
By contrast, Hasina’s return will be viewed more positively in South Asia, said the South Asia policy analyst.
Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson Center in Washington, DC, said that Sheikh Hasina enjoys strong support from India, which, like the Awami League, characterizes the opposition as a potentially destabilizing threat that could lead to the return of Islamism in Bangladesh.
Jan 7 general election will be a milestone in country’s democratic history: PM Hasina
Hasina’s push for connectivity resonates with Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, all of whom are pursuing new initiatives with Bangladesh.
The strong economic growth under her offers new opportunities for trade within a region where it lags, said the analyst.
Finally, her policy of balancing relations with both Beijing and New Delhi converges with that of the region’s other non-aligned states, said Kugelman.
Although foreign countries play an outsized role in Bangladeshi politics, it will be up to the people of Bangladesh to determine the country’s future direction, said the International Crisis Group on Thursday in a new report.
President casts vote via postal ballot, encourages nationwide participation in Jan 7 election
Based on the decisions that the AL and BNP take, the public will decide either at the ballot box or on the streets, it said in its Asia Report, "Beyond the Election: Breaking Bangladesh’s Political Deadlock."
Although it may be impossible before polling day, it is incumbent on
both sides to enter talks as early as possible to avoid a lengthy and potentially deadly political showdown, reads the report.
Foreign governments, for their part, should work together to cajole the two sides into negotiations aimed at forging a new political settlement.
Given the level of domestic opposition it is facing, alongside economic and geopolitical headwinds, the AL has reasons to seek a compromise.
Negotiations to rebuild relations between the main political forces and put Bangladesh back on to the path of democracy, peace and stability will require concessions from both sides, said the Crisis Group.
The country’s foreign partners, particularly the US and India, should actively encourage them in that direction, it said.
“The 7 January election will not resolve Bangladesh’s political crisis. Although it’s too late to postpone the vote, a flawed election provides only more reason to redouble efforts to get the ruling Awami League and its opponents talking again after the poll," said Crisis Group's Asia Director, Pierre Prakash.
“Since the 2008 election that brought the Awami League to power, the country has not held a credible national election. And while Bangladesh has made significant progress in some areas over the past 15 years, most notably on the economic front and in reducing poverty, it has experienced continued political violence and repression of civil liberties," Prakash added.
A new political settlement between the two major parties would help to put Bangladesh back on to the path of democracy, peace and stability, Prakash said.
"It could avert further political violence – in the past few months alone, dozens of people have been killed. It would also help to balance Bangladesh’s international relations and improve its economic prospects,” said the Crisis Group's Asia director.
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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.
Insaniyat Biplab moves Supreme Court to rule on dissolving parliament, army-led administration for elections
A newly registered political party, Insaniyat Biplab Bangladesh, have now filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, seeking the dissolution of parliament and rescheduling of the 12th Jatiya Sangshad elections under the direct supervision of the Army.
The complaint seeks directives from the highest court of the land to appoint the Army with magistracy power to maintain law and order and oversee what would be a rescheduled election, and till then, a return to martial law in effect.
Read: Independent and AL candidates from Gazipur-4, Jashore-4 can run for election: SC
Speaking to UNB after filing the case, Insaniyat-chairman Imam Hayat said, “In the last election, we observed that the ruling MPs misused government power in their respective constituencies and used the administration, police and their own armed men to occupy the polling centres and obstruct others from casting their votes.”
He said: "It is impossible to have an impartial election by retaining the parliament. In order to protect the country and democracy through free and fair elections, we have filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking an order to dissolve the parliament before conducting elections under the direct supervision of the Army heading the interim government."
The first writ was dismissed in the court of Justice Iqbal Kabir and Justice Biswajit Debnath in December. After sending legal notices to the EC and others, a case was filed for reconsideration which was heard on December 27, 2023 and the same court that disposed of the first writ expressed reluctance to hear the case. That led to the case filed today which number is CMP 03/2024.
Read: Sirajganj-5: BNP expels 5 leaders for taking part in election campaign of independent candidates
Just eight months before the election, in May 2023, the previously unheard of political party, platform, forum or whatever calling itself Insaniyat Biplab Bangladesh got the EC’s nod to be registered as a political party that could run for election, for which it was assigned the 'Apple' electoral symbol (marka).
Eventually they did not submit any nomination papers by the November 30 deadline, to take part in the election scheduled for January 7.