Awami League
Boat wins two constituencies in Thakurgaon, plough in one
Two of the three parliamentary seats were won by Awami League’s candidates in Thakurgaon and one by Jatiya Party's ‘plough’ in the 12th parliamentary elections.
Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan elected by 140,000 Magura-I constituency
Ramesh Chandra Sen and Mazharul Islam Sujan from Awami League won in Thakurgaon-1 and Thakurgaon-2 respectively while Hafizuddin Ahmed from Jatiya Party in Thakurgaon-3.
Hasina wins Gopalganj-3
Hasina wins Gopalganj-3
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been elected unofficially in Gopalganj-3 constituency in the 12th general election.
She bagged the seat achieving 2,49,965 votes in her constituency while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lascar from Bangladesh Supreme Party secured 469 votes, said Returning officer of the district Kazi Mahbubul Alam.
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The polling that began at 8:00 am concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies. The counting of votes started immediately after the end of voting.
No pressure on voters to vote, but leaflets from ‘a party’ asking not to go, says FS quoting CEC
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College in the capital this morning.
Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam on Sunday said 27.15 % votes were cast till 3 pm on Sunday.
Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 says election rally attacked by AL candidate's campaigners
Election held in festive atmosphere: IGP Abdullah
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has said that a festive atmosphere was prevailing in the polling centres across the country, including Dhaka while the law and order situation was normal except one or two stray incidents.
He made the remark while briefing reporters after visiting Kabi Nazrul Islam Government College centre in Old Dhaka on Sunday.
The IGP said law enforcers including police performed their duty with professionalism at polling stations and election areas across the country.
Calling the vote casting a civic duty of people, he said the voters exercised their rights peacefully across the country in a festive mood.
Regarding the security measures centring the balloting, the IGP said they have divided the security system into three parts on the occasion of the election.
Members of law enforcement agencies were working to keep the overall atmosphere normal before, during and after the election, he said, adding that they are ready to face any sabotage or terrorist situation with the capacity.
Asked about the number of vulnerable voting centres, the IGP said they divided the centre into two parts-important and general while there are some important polling stations and atmosphere is normal everywhere.
Regarding the BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi’s allegation of ballot boxes being stuffed with seals on boats at night, the police head said, “The ballot papers went to the polling stations this morning. It is in front of you (journalists). You can tell when the ballot went to the polling station. You can judge how true this allegation is. Anyone would call this accusation baseless.”
Questioned about the presence of outsiders (fake voters) at Kabi Nazrul centre, he suggested the journalists hand over the fake voters to police while they would take legal action against them.
DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Additional Commissioner (Admin) AKM Hafiz Akhter and Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) Chief Md Jahangir Alam, among others, were present on the occasion.
DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman and Metropolitan DB Chief Harun-or-Rashid were also present on the occasion.
EC cancels candidacy of Ctg-16 AL candidate Mustafizur Rahman
The Election Commission has cancelled the candidacy of Awami League candidate Mustafizur Rahman in Chattogram-16 constituency.
His candidacy was scrapped on the ground of violation of the election code, said EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam at a press briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban at 4:00pm.
"He violated the election code of conduct and gave threats to the law enforcers today. He also breached the code earlier," he said.
Mustafizur Rahman is also a current MP from this constituency.
Groups shouting ‘anti-election slogans’ blast cocktails in front of 2 Sylhet polling stations
Groups shouting anti-election slogans exploded crude bombs to create panic among voters in front of two polling stations in Pathantula area of Sylhet-1 constituency as the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway.
Moreover, they set fire to tyres to halt vehicular movement of law enforcers and others on Sylhet-Sunamganj regional road around 11 am.
Police and locals said more than 100 people wearing masks and helmets tried to enter Pathantula Dipakkhik High School and Pathantula Government Primary School with sticks around 11 am.
They were shouting slogans “Illegal vote of illegal government, won’t accept it” at the time.
Being informed, police rushed to the spot and used sound grenades to bring the situation under control, forcing the groups to flee.
Md Azbahar Ali Sheikh, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), said a group was trying to enter voting centres to foil the balloting.
Later, they fled the scene after being chased by police, he added.
Supporter of ‘boat’ candidate found dead in Cumilla
A supporter of Awami League-candidate for Cumilla-4 Razee Mohammad Fakhrul was found dead near a polling centre at Kasharikhola in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla district on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Noab Ali, 60, son of Abdi Mia of Kasharikhola village.
Read: Election 2024: Crude bomb blast at Jashore polling centre injures 1
Jewel Rana, son of Noab Ali, said Noab was talking to his uncle Selim after casting his vote at Kasharikhola Government Primary School polling stations in the morning.
At one stage, a supporter of independent candidate Abul Kalam Azad appeared there and an altercation ensued between them over the polls.
Later, the supporter of the independent candidate rolled a scarf around Noab’s neck and pushed him to the ground around 10 am , leaving him injured.
Read: Election 2024: AL candidate supporter stabbed dead in Munshiganj
He was taken to Debidwar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.
Nayan Mia, officer-in-charge of Debidwar Police Station, said there were no injury marks on the body of Noab and it is not confirmed where he it is election-related killing.
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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‘On Jan 7, world will witness a great election in Bangladesh’: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today (January 03, 2024) said that the Election Commission is able to act independently and authoritatively, which is why the electoral code of conduct is being strictly maintained.
Speaking this afternoon at the party president’s office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, he further said that wherever the electoral code of conduct is being violated, the Election Commission is taking action. There is no interference or obstruction from the government, and Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is firm on this matter, he said.
Obaidul Quader said, on January 7, the world will witness a great election in Bangladesh with the spontaneous presence of the people, where the public opinion will be victorious.
Read: Respond to conspiracies by casting votes: Obaidul Quader
He also said that BNP and Jamaat, having failed in their movements, are now distributing leaflets. “They are stuck in the quicksand of failure and mistakes, and they cannot come out. Their negative agendas, violence, and blockades have been ignored by the people. Even if BNP now says they will not resort to violence, there is no way to say if it’s true or not. Because they say one thing and do another. We are receiving news that they are secretly conspiring,” he said.
The road, transport and bridges minister also criticized the “double standards” of Amnesty International. He said, “Amnesty International talks about human rights in Bangladesh, and the verdict in Dr. Yunus’ case, but why don’t they speak about the massacres that Israel is carrying out in Gaza, Palestine? They have not said a single word against Israel.”
Read: Election-related violence won't be tolerated: Obaidul Quader
Present at the press briefing were Awami League Organizational Secretary BM Mozammel Haq, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, along with central and metropolitan Awami League leaders.
Cast votes on January 7 to foil BNP-Jamaat arsonists: PM Hasina at Kalabagan rally
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the people to give a befitting reply to arson violence, BNP and Jamaat by casting their votes in the January-7 general election.
“Don’t only cast your vote, but also protect your vote. Give a befitting reply to arson violence, militant and terrorist BNP and Jamaat,” she said.
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The AL chief said this while addressing an election rally, arranged jointly by AL Dhaka City South and North units at Kalabagan Krirachakro Field in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
She asked the people of Bangladesh to stay vigilant always against arsonists BNP and Jamaat as they want to destroy the country.
“BNP and Jamaat want to snatch your votes in the upcoming election by resorting to arson violence,” she said.
The PM urged the voters to go to polling stations and cast their votes in the morning on January 7 so that none can snatch away their voting rights and election.
Alleging that BNP is habituated to rig votes, she said the party is now boycotting the election as it can’t steal votes.
Also read: PM Hasina seeks votes from first-time voters to continue progress
“They don’t want to run in the election, rather want to spoil election…..But they don’t have so much courage to stop the election. They won’t be able to do so,” she went on.
She referred to the BNP’s poor performance in the 2008 election, Hasina said many people had earlier thought that BNP is a very strong party and would secure more seats or equal to Awami League’s in that election.
"But in reality, the people rejected them for their looting, militancy, terrorism and rise of Bangla Bhai and corruption,” she said.
The AL president said BNP boycotted the 2014 election and did poorly in the 2018 election due to its nomination business.
“We heard he (Tarique) makes money by playing casino that means gambling,” she said, alleging that he uses the money to create anarchy and arson violence again in Bangladesh.
Narail-2 independent aspirant Litu gets back candidacy
Awami League leader Syed Faizul Amir Litu, an independent candidate for Narail-2 constituency, has regained his candidacy to contest in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad polls.
The High Court bench of Justice MD Iqbal Kabir and Bishjit Debnath delivered the order after reviewing his appeal on Thursday (December 28).
Despite HC order Sylhet-2 independent candidate yet to get symbol
Confirming the matter, Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Mohammad Ashfaqul Haque Chowdhury said that Syed Faizul Amir Litu has been allotted "truck" symbol.
Earlier on Dec 4, the returning officer cancelled Litu's candidacy due to some complications including the signature of one percent of the voters.
Govt declares Jan 7 as general holiday for 12th national election
Faizul Amir was called several times for his comments, but he did not respond.
A total of eight candidates are vying in the upcoming election from Narail-2 constituency.
BNP-Jamaat ask people not to vote as they believe in elections without voting: Law Minister
The candidates are AL-backed candidate Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Workers Party's Adv. Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Jatiya Party’s Adv Faekuzzaman Feroz, Islami Oikya Jote's Mahabubur Rahman, National People's Party (NPP) Monirul Islam, Gono Front's Md Latifur Rahman and two independent candidates Md Noor Islam and Syed Faizul Amir Litu.