BNP
Democracies have weaknesses, but they attain maturity only through practice: Foreign Ministry tells diplomats
The government has said that Bangladesh’s democratic polity has reached a stage where smooth and peaceful transition of power between elected governments has been ensured without any undemocratic arrangement.
"Democracies have weaknesses, but they attain maturity only through practicing democracy," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a briefing note shared with diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Although many leaders and activists of BNP were keen to participate, it is regrettable that its top leadership decided otherwise on the pretext of their unconstitutional demand for the provision of a caretaker government, the ministry conveyed to diplomats.
In 2011, Supreme Court of Bangladesh declared the unelected caretaker provision "ultra vires" (any deed performed beyond the scope of legal authority) and void as it conflicts with the spirit of democracy.
Read more: Australia urges Bangladesh govt to prioritise strengthening its democratic institutions
The Election Commission repeatedly called upon BNP to participate, and the EC was even willing to revise the election schedule if BNP joined.
BNP made this "irrational demand" as its principal political capital and chose to destroy the lives and properties of people, holding them hostage, said the government.
The state of horrific violence that BNP and its allies unleashed throughout the country is only a vivid reminder of their drills in 2001, 2013, 2014 and 2018, the ministry of foreign affairs said.
Since October 28, 2023, they set ablaze nearly a thousand public and private vehicles and over 200 establishments including police hospital premises and ambulances, vandalized nearly a thousand vehicles and many establishments including the residences of Chief Justice and other judges, caused injury to around 1,500 police personnel and around 500 civilians, attacked reporters and camera personnel, killed 24 individuals including two police personnel – one of them mercilessly beaten to death in broad daylight, the foreign ministry observed.
"They sabotaged our railway system, leading to tragic incidents claiming five precious lives including burning a mother and her 3-year-old son alive and leaving many others severely injured," reads the briefing note.
In the lead-up to the election, BNP "geared up its violence" in its efforts to spread fear and terror. On the preceding day of the elections, they carried out arson attacks on polling centres with a view to intimidating the voters, the ministry conveyed to the diplomats.
Read more: Foreign friends continue to send congratulations to PM Hasina on her election win
BNP called for a 48-hour nationwide strike to cut off the communication system and obstruct voters from traveling to their constituencies to cast their votes, it said.
The Benapole Express train was set on fire, killing four passengers, causing severe injuries to many, and burning the passenger train to ashes, it said.
The 12th Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh were held on January 7 in a "free, fair, impartial and transparent" manner with spontaneous participation of the voters.
The people of Bangladesh as well as the international community have witnessed that the Bangladesh Election Commission, an independent and empowered constitutional body, supported by the incumbent government, can effectively conduct free, fair and credible elections, the ministry said.
The 2024 polls have set a new milestone in the history of the journey of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, it said.
People of Bangladesh have demonstrated their unyielding resolve to a rule-based democratic system and peace, progress and stability through their active participation, the foreign ministry said.
"The incumbent government also manifested its unprecedented political commitment to take forward the democratic process, uphold the constitutional mandate, and ensure people’s right to vote."
Despite the calls to boycott, violence and persistent intimidation by the BNP, the people of Bangladesh reinforced their commitment to and aspiration for a peaceful and ‘Smart Bangladesh’ vision, said the government.
"This is a new paradigm in Bangladesh’s electoral history within the constitutional framework, based on trust, credibility, and impartiality in the election process in line with people’s aspirations," it said.
The Indian High Commission's representative, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis, and high commissioners and ambassadors from various other countries were present at the "meet and greet" where Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen spoke briefly. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present.
Read more: Canada disappointed that Bangladesh’s electoral process has ‘fallen short of’ democratic principles
Voter turnout over 60% in 21 constituencies, below 30% in 52: EC stats
Though the overall voter turnout was 41.99 percent in the 12th parliamentary election held on Sunday (January 07, 2024), more than 60 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in 21 constituencies and less than 30 percent voted in at least 52 constituencies, according to Election Commission data.
The highest 87.24 percent votes were cast in Gopalganj-3 and Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was elected from the constituency, according to the data.
The lowest turnout was 13.04 percent in Dhaka-15. State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumdar won the election from the constituency as an AL contender.
In the national election held amid boycott of a major political party BNP, ruling Awami League secured 222 seats, while Jatiya Party obtained only 11 seats. Independent candidates clinched victory in 62 seats.
Besides, Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) and Bangladesh Kalyan Party each won a seat. The election result of Mymensingh-3 was postponed.
Out of the country’s 300 seats, Sunday’s balloting was held in 299 seats as the election to Naogaon-2 was earlier postponed by the commission following the death of a valid candidate there.
The five constituencies with more than 70 percent voter turnout are: Gopalganj-3 (87.24% turnout; AL candidate Sheikh Hasina won), Gopalganj-2 (83.20%; AL candidate Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim won), Brahmanbaria-6 (76%, AL’s AB Tajul Islam won), Chattogram-6 (73.24%; AL’s ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury won) and Sirajganj-1 (72.32%; AL candidate Tanvir Shakil Joy won).
Read: BNP demands fresh election to establish legitimate govt, PM Hasina’s resignation
The constituencies having over 60 percent voter turnout include Naogaon-1, Bagerhat-1, Bagerhat-2, Bagerhat-4, Barishal-1, Jamalpur-1, Mymensingh-10, Faridpur-4, Gopalganj-1, Madaripur-1, Cumilla-7, Cumilla-8, Feni-2, Noakhali-6, Chattogram-7 and Bandarban.
Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim secured the highest 295,291 votes for the ‘boat’ symbol in Gopalganj-2.
Tanvir Shakil Joy got the second highest, 278,971 votes, in Sirajganj-1.
Mirza Azam received 276,453 votes in Jamalpur-3 and Dipankar Talukdar got 271,373 votes in Rangamati.
Among the elected candidates, independent candidate Awlad Hossain secured victory obtaining the lowest number of 24,775 votes in Dhaka-4.
Candidates who won even after getting less than 40,000 votes are: AL nominated Muhammad Shafikur Rahman (36,458 votes) in Chandpur-4, independent contestant Saddam Hossain Pavel (39,321 votes) in Nilphamari-3 and AL’s Kamal Ahmed Majumdar (39,632 votes) in Dhaka-15.
Less than 20 percent votes were cast in five constituencies, which are Dhaka-15 (13.04%), Dhaka-17 (16.66%), Dhaka-8 (18.70%), Sylhet-1 (19.30%) and Dhaka-16 (19.88%). In Sylhet-1, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen was elected.
Read: Visiting foreign observers describe National Election 2024 in Bangladesh as ‘free, fair and safe’
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Mujibul Haque won amid low turnout of voters in their constituencies.
GM Quader ran the election from Rangpur-3 where the voter turnout was only 22.36%. Mujibul Haque who contested the polls from Kishoreganj-3 witnessed voter turnout of 29.33%.
The constituencies that witnessed voter turnout of 20-29 percent also include Rangpur-3, Kurigram-1, Kurigram-2, Kurigram-3, Gaibandha-1, Gaibandha-3, Bogura-2, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Bogura-7, Chapainawabganj-3, Rajshahi-2, Patuakhali-1, Barishal-5, Mymensingh-5, Mymensingh-6, Mymensingh-8, Kishoreganj-3, Manikganj-1, Dhaka-4, Dhaka-5, Dhaka-6, Dhaka-7, Dhaka-9, Dhaka-10, Dhaka-11, Dhaka-13, Dhaka-14, Dhaka-18, Dhaka-19, Gazipur-2, Sylhet-5, Sylhet-6, Habiganj-1, Chandpur-3, Chandpur-4, Noakhali-3, Noakhali-4, Lakshmipur-1, Lakshmipur-3, Lakshmipur-4, Chattogram-5, Chattogram-8, Chattogram-10, Chattogram-11, Chattogram-15 and Cox’s Bazar-1.
A total of 4,99,65,467 votes out of 11,89,89,241 were cast in 298 constituencies in the January-7 general election.
Read more: Envoys of India, China, Russia and four other countries congratulate Hasina on her big election victory
Election 2024: Former BNP vice chairman Shahjahan Omar wins from Jhalakathi-1
Major (retd) Shahjahan Omar, who left BNP and was nominated by the ruling Awami League (AL) for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency, secured a landslide victory by a huge margin of votes in yesterday's 12th National Parliamentary Election.
Shahjahan was elected by 95,478 votes while his rival Abu Bakkar with the "rose" symbol got only 1,624 votes.
Jatiya Party-backed candidate Ezazul Huq bagged 1,272 votes in the election held at 90 polling stations.
Detective police picked up Shahjahan from a house in Dhaka in the early hours of November 5 as a suspect in a case filed over burning a bus. The same day, a Dhaka court placed him on remand for four days in the case.
Read more: Election 2024: Awami League secures 16 out of 20 Dhaka seats
On November 29, the then BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan walked out of jail after securing bail from a Dhaka court. The following day, he submitted a nomination paper online as an Awami League candidate for Jhalakathi-1 constituency. The same day, BNP expelled him from the party for breaching party discipline.
Shahjahan Omar served as state minister for law during the last BNP led government.
Read more: Election 2024: China congratulates PM Hasina, says committed to working with her
BNP holds protest rally rejecting polls in Kishoreganj
Leaders and activists of the BNP held a protest rally rejecting election results in Kishoreganj.
The procession started from the Puranthana area of the district around 8:00 pm on Sunday.
JSD's Inu defeated by 19,161 votes
The procession, led by district BNP general secretary Mazharul Islam, ended at the same place after parading different roads.
Abul Hasnat, Menon won in Barishal-1 and 2
District BNP Organizing Secretary Israil Mia and more than 200 leaders and activists took part in the procession.
Democracy-loving people won as almost 12 crore boycotted polls: BNP
Democracy-loving people won as almost 12 crore boycotted polls: BNP
BNP on Sunday night said the victory of the democracy-loving people was ensured as almost all voters rejected the 12th parliamentary election responding to the opposition’s call for boycotting the lopsided voting.
In a statement, signed by its Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the party also said it is the trait of all autocrats to show high voter turnout in the election that was rejected by people.
Hasina wins Gopalganj-3
“People responded to the call of the opposition parties and showed their solidarity. So, the victory of the democracy-loving people was ensured as they firmly rejected today's (Sunday’s) fraudulent election,” BNP said.
It also said the rejection of the election by the people is a spontaneous support for the ongoing movement of pro-democracy forces and a strong reflection of the popular demand for Sheikh Hasina's resignation.
“Almost all of the country's 12 crore voters boycotted this farcical election…this heroic stand of the people of Bangladesh is mainly for the restoration of democracy. BNP congratulates the countrymen for the way the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh unitedly and bravely rejected the dummy election,” the party said.
Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan elected by 140,000 votes Magura-1 constituency
The BNP thinks the flawed election was a complete insult to the democratic aspirations and enthusiasm of the people of Bangladesh.
It also said the ruling party cadres could not bring out voters to the empty polling stations even outside Dhaka despite various manipulations, threats, and persuasion.
The BNP said the way Awami League resorted to manipulations and irregularities in every seat and center in the election that was boycotted by 63 democratic parties, it was proved once again that no free, fair, participatory, competitive, and peaceful election is possible under Sheikh Hasina.
Abul Hasnat, Menon won in Barishal-1 and 2
“The state suffers badly if the constitutional institutions are not independent and strong. The current election commission is proof of that. As they (EC) were subservient to Awami fascism, they played a game in the name of election,” the party said.
10 hand bombs recovered from polling centre in Rajshahi
The Detective Branch (DB) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police has recovered 10 hand bombs from a polling center near a primary school(a polling centre) Friday night.
Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid in this connection.
4 polling centres set on fire in Rajshahi
Witnesses and police said BNP and its associate bodies brought out a torchlight procession in the city on Friday evening in support of the 48-hour hartal protesting the January-7 election.
Two hand bombs were detonated when the procession was passing Uposahar Primary School.
Rajshahi-4 constituency: 4 female supporters of independent candidate say they were attacked by ‘boat’ supporters
Police arrested BNP supporter Sujan Islam Touhid and recovered the hand bombs form near the school based on information gleaned from him, said ADC of the Detective Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Md. Ruhul Amin.
Rajshahi-4: 15 injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's procession
Govt again starts playing with fire to make political gains, BNP on train arson
Denouncing the arson attack on the Benapole Express Train that killed four passengers, BNP on Saturday said the government is playing with fire to make political gains by blaming the opposition.
“The government has again started playing with fire. They've resorted to the old game as they played in the past to hold a one-sided national election,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He made the remarks while picketing in support of their party’s 48-hour hartal that began 6m today to protest against Sunday’s 'dummy' election.
Rizvi claimed that the ruling party tried to gain political advantage earlier by resorting to a hellish rampage of arson.
48-hour nationwide hartal called by BNP underway
“People believe that yesterday's (Friday's) Benapole Express train fire and casualties were part of the government's old game,” the BNP leader said.
As the people have come up with a massive response to the movement of the BNP and other opposition parties for democracy, he said the ruling quarter is playing with people's lives by indulging in arson violence, and terrorism.
“The government has been hatching plots one after another to arrange the election like an authoritarian country, and putting the blame onto the opposition,” Rizvi alleged.
He said the government aims to stay in power by eliminating the opposition parties, especially BNP.
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Stating that the arson on the Benapole Express Train was an ill-motivated, the BNP leader once again demanded an international investigation into the incident under the supervision of the United Nations.
On the first day of their 48-hour hartal, Rizvi along with some party leaders and workers brought out a procession from Shahbagh crossing towards Banglamotor in the capital around 7:3pm as part of picketing to enforce the shutdown.
At this time, the BNP activists set fire to tires and staged a demonstration there in support of the hartal.
A 48-hour hartal, called by BNP and like-minded opposition parties to protest the 12th parliamentary election to be held tomorrow, is underway. The hartal began at 6 am and will end at 6 am on Monday.
The night before the scheduled hartal, miscreants torched the four coaches of the Benapole Express train at 9:05pm on Friday, killing at least four people.
Govt out to show artificial turnout in Jan 7 polls: Dr Moyeen Khan
.BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.
Many senior leaders, including BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.
However, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days since October 29 amid the incidents of violence like setting fire to public vehicles and passenger trains.
48-hour nationwide hartal called by BNP underway
A 48-hour hartal, called by BNP and like-minded opposition parties to protest the 12th parliamentary election to be held tomorrow (January 07, 2024), is underway.
The hartal began at 6 am today (January 06, 2024) and will end at 6 am on Monday (January 08, 2024).
A large number of people have left Dhaka city ahead of the January 7 national parliamentary election. The number of vehicles on the street are fewer compared to other days, but despite fear of arson attacks, public vehicles were plying the streets.
Four people were killed as arsonists burnt four coaches of the Benapole Express train in Dhaka last night.
Read: Govt to face crushing defeat on Jan 7: Moyeen Khan
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the hartal at a virtual press briefing on Thursday.
He said their programme is meant to drum up public support in favor of the party’s call to boycott the January 7 election.
BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.
Read: BNP to hold processions, conduct mass contacts Friday to protest Jan-7 polls
Many senior leaders, including BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.
However, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days since October 29.
The opposition party came up with the call for a non-cooperation movement on December 20.
It won't affect polls whether left leaning parties boycott or not : Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said on Thursday that as the left leaning parties don't have noticeable voters it won't affect the elections whether they boycott the elections or not.
“I respect my leftist brothers as they are pro-liberation forces, and socialism is also one of the main pillars of our party. For this, I also support many issues coming from them. But, it is a sheer truth that they have no public support. So, there is no impact on whether the leftist parties are joining the poll or not”, he said.
The minister made the remarks while talking to journalists at his secretariat on Thursday afternoon.
Awami League comes to power to serve: Law Minister
He also said that the BNP recruited some Jewish agents to spread falsehood against the January 7 election after being rejected by the people.
“People have rejected the BNP’s call of resisting the poll. Now they are urging to boycott the election and have recruited some Jewish agents including David Bergman to make the election questionable,” he said.
“The BNP-recruited lobbyists are writing articles in different foreign newspapers. But there is no benefit of their evil motive,” he said, adding that Begum Khaleda Zia also had written article in a US newspaper by her name against the country.
Sheikh Hasina does not care about threat from foreign powers: Quader
The information minister said it is nothing new as the BNP can do anything against the country. Even they wrote articles forging the signatures of congressmen and presenting a fake US president’s advisor before the nation, he said.
He said the BNP also had spread propaganda that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah phoned them. By doing this the BNP has made itself “a fraud party”, he noted.
He also said that the countrymen are now rlrction-oriented and the election will be held in a free, fair and festive mood.
Awami League president Sheikh Hasina to address nation this evening
The European Union, the US, SAARC countries, OIC and other countries have already sent their observers to monitor the polls.
“It actually proves that this election has been widely accepted by the international communities,” he said. “The BNP's anti-election campaign is baseless.”
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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