Election
National Election: EC declares 61 more candidates valid
The Election Commission on Tuesday declared 61 more aspirants as valid contenders, hearing 98 appeals filed by aggrieved ones against the decisions of the returning officers over the nomination papers in the upcoming national election.
With 61 new aspirants, a total of 168 hopefuls got back their candidacy in the first three days after the EC on Sunday started hearing and disposing of the appeals submitted against the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers (ROs).
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On Tuesday, the commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal turned down 35 petitions and kept its decisions over two petitions pending following hearing at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
The EC has so far heard 291 appeals in the first three days and made its decisions over 276 petitions and kept the decisions regarding 15 ones pending. Nine petitioners did not turn up in the hearing.
If anyone becomes aggrieved even with the EC’s decision over candidature, the person has scope to go to the higher court, challenging it.
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The commission is hearing and disposing of the petitions from December 10 to 15 as a total of 561 aggrieved aspirants challenged the ROs’ decisions.
Most of them lodged petitions against cancellation of nomination papers, while at least 30 aspirants against the acceptance of nomination papers.
Earlier, a total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independent ones submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th national parliamentary election.
Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election, which is being boycotted by major party BNP and some others.
Also read: National election: 51 more aspirants get back candidatures Monday
But the returning officers accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4.
Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds - mismatch in the 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults, and dual citizenship.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8 am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.
Also read: 56 aspirants including Mahi B Chy, Hero Alam get back candidature
Necessary preparations taken for upcoming national election: IGP
All necessary preparations have been taken so that the upcoming national election can be held in free, fair and festive manner, said Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Tuesday.
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“We have necessary training, logistics and equipment and we are fully prepared with our manpower,” he said while talking to reporters after attending the 13th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Police Blood Bank in the city's Rajarbagh Police Lines.
“Already we have taken special plans for tackling pre-election, election-time and post-election situations and we are working as per the directive of the Election Commission after the announcement of election schedule,” he added.
Replying to a question, the IGP said “Our intelligence-based operations are being conducted to take action against any kind of sabotage and you all know that sporadic attacks are being carried out in different palces. Police are well prepared to provide necessary support for holding a free election dealing with all sabotage activities.”
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“We have not received any list of criminals or illegal arms holders from the EC but we have been directed to arrest them,” he said.
The drive against criminals and illegal arms holders will continue, he added.
State Minister for Public Administration showcaused for violating electoral code of conduct
State Minister for Public Administration and Awami League candidate for Meherpur-1 constituency Farhad Hossain has been served a show-cause notice by the Election Search Committee.
Joint District and Sessions Judge of Meherpur and Election Search Committee Chairman of Meherpur-1 constituency HM Kabir Hossain issued the show-cause notice on Sunday.
According to the notice, the State Minister for Public Administration and Awami League candidate participated in an election rally in front of the residence of Selim Reza, chairman of Kutubpur Union of Meherpur Sadar Upazila, on December 9 and went to the rally in government vehicle with police protocol.
This is a violation of rules 12 and 14 (2) of the Political Party and Candidates Conduct Rules 2008 in the parliamentary elections, the notice reads.
EU delegation holds meeting with Inu's JSD
Members of the Election Expert Mission from the European Union (EU) had a meeting with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu on Saturday afternoon.
The one and half hour long meeting was held at the residence of Hasanul Haq Inu in the city from 2:45pm, according to a press release.They discussed the country's situation ahead of the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7.
JSD General Secretary Shirin Akhter (also Inu's wife), Executive President Rabiul Alam, and EU Election Expert Mission's political expert Alexander Matus and Legal Rights Expert Rebecca Cox were present at the meeting.According to the press release, the EU delegation wanted to know about the constitution, electoral laws, caretaker government system, situation of 12th parliamentary polls, JSD's history as a political party and its stance and role, and the 14-party electoral alliance.
It said that Inu briefed the delegation about the matters and said that the rule of law remains established in the country as the judiciary often gives verdict against the executive division of the government to ensure justice for anyone affected by the executive division.
The 12th parliamentary election is going to be held as per the constitution, Inu said, adding that the Election Commission (EC) is moving ahead to hold the polls independently and efficiently based on the powers and jurisdiction given by the country's constitution.
The JSD president also said that elections would have been more competitive if BNP had joined the polls avoiding the path of terrorism and resisting polls.
Inu said the more competitive an election, the more beautiful it is.
He also expressed his hope that the role of the EU as a development partner of Bangladesh and in strengthening the democratic system and institutions in the country will continue in the future.
EC summons Amu for violating polls code of conduct
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday summoned veteran Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu, dangling a threat to cancel his candidature for violating the electoral code of conduct in his constituency of Jhalokathi on Friday.
The summons is part of an EC statement signed by its Director (Public Relations) Md Shariful Alam.
Amu, who is contesting from Jhalokathi-2 seat in the parliamentary elections billed for January 7, was asked to appear before the EC to explain why his candidature won’t be voided at 3pm on December 15, reads the statement.
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According to the statement, the AL leader, also president of the JS standing committee on Industries Ministry Affairs, was asked by the EC not to join any rally violating the electoral code of conduct in his constituency on Friday.
Despite the restriction, he addressed and sought vote for him at two separate programmes in the Hall Room of Nalchiti upazila and Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium of the district.
As per the ‘Code of Conduct of political parties and candidates in the parliamentary elections’, there is a provision of cancelling the candidature for breaching the polls code.
EC okays transfer of 338 OCs and 205 UNOs
The Election Commission has so far approved the proposals for transferring 205 Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) and the Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of 338 police stations ahead of the upcoming national election slated for January 07 next.
The EC cleared two proposals --one is to transfer 338 OCs and another is to transfer 158 UNOs—on Thursday. The Commission earlier okayed a proposal to transfer 47 UNOs.
So far 338 aspirants challenge RO’s decisions
“The Commission has so far approved the proposals to transfer to 338 OCs and 205 UNOs,” EC additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told UNB.
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Earlier, the EC asked the government to transfer all Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and Officers-in-Charge (OC) of police stations in phases to conduct the 12th parliamentary elections in a fair manner.
As per the EC’s directives, the Public Security Division on Wednesday last sent the proposal to the EC to transfer 338 OCs in the first phase, while the Public Administration Ministry sent several proposals to transfer 205 UNOs this week.
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There are 651 police stations and 495 Upazilas in Bangladesh.
So far 338 aspirants challenge RO’s decisions
As many as 155 aggrieved aspirants lodged appeals before the Election Commission on Thursday, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers in the upcoming national election slated for January 7.
With the 155 new petitioners, a total of 338 aspirants have so far challenged the ROs’ decisions after the EC started receiving petitions on Tuesday. The EC will also receive the appeals on Friday and Saturday.
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Among 155 petitions, seven appeals were lodged against the acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers.
Earlier, the EC received 42 appeals on Tuesday and 141 ones on Wednesday.
The full commission will hear the appeals and hand down its decisions from December 10 to 15.
A total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independents submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run in the 12th parliamentary election.
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But the returning officers have accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4 last.
Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds -- mismatch in 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults and dual citizenship.
Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election.
BNP urges those who field candidates to stay away from Jan-7 polls
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the voting will be held from 8am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.
JSD President Hasanul Inu's wealth up over three-fold in 5 years, annual income dips
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President and Kushtia-2 (Mirpur-Bheramara) MP Hasanul Inu's wealth has increased almost four times in the last five years.
During this period, his annual income decreased slightly to Tk 33,74,804, according to his affidavit submitted to the Returning Officer's office in Kushtia.
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According to the affidavit, Hasanul Haq Inu is a politician and engineer. A large part of his income comes from business, salary-allowances, dividends of banks and financial institutions and TV talk shows.
A total Tk 762,149 of his annual income comes from his business.
His income from salary and allowances is Tk23.27 lakh. He earns Tk216,070 from TV talk shows and bank interest.
In the affidavit submitted during the 11th parliamentary election, he showed an annual income of Tk 34.61 lakh. As such, Inu's annual income has decreased slightly. Despite this, Hasanul Haq Inu's wealth has increased almost 4 times in the last 5 years.
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According to the information given in the affidavit for the 12th parliamentary election, Inu has assets worth Tk 3.92 crore, compared to Tk 1.15 crore during the 2018 parliamentary election. At present, Inu has cash of Tk 3.56 crore, Tk 14.84 lakh deposited in banks and financial institutions in his name.
Meanwhile, Inu's wife's wealth has increased almost 30-fold in the last 10 years, as shown in the affidavit. The amount of his wife's current assets, including movable and immovable, is Tk 1.85 crore, compared to Tk6.38 lakhs in 2013. Of her assets, she has cash of Tk 1.61 crore. She deposited Tk 16.37 lakh in bank and financial institutions and also has an appartment worth Tk 7.48 lakh in her name.
42 aspirants appealed against ROs’ decisions on day one
A total of 42 aggrieved aspirants, including 26 independent hopefuls, filed appeals before the Election Commission on the first day, challenging the decisions of the returning officers.
The commission on Tuesday started receiving the petitions over the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers and will continue it till December 09.
Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal visited the first day activities of receiving the appeals through 10 booths installed on the premises of Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
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Visiting the activities, the CEC told reporters that the full commission will hear the appeals and then hand down its decisions. The petitions will be heard from December 10 to 15 next, he said.
In reply to a question as to why Ex-BNP leader and AL aspirant Barrister Shahjahan Omar came to the Election Commission, Habibul Awal said it is not his affairs.
He, however, did not reply to another question as to why the EC only issues show- cause notices and doesn’t go for actions against the violation of the electoral code of conduct.
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In this regard, the CEC said, “I’ve said as much as I had to say. I won't say anything beyond that.”
The aspirants who submitted appeals on Tuesday include Bakalpadhara Bangladesh nominated Mahi B Chowdhury (Munshiganj-3), Jatiya Party nominated Md Akhteruzzaman (Jashore-1), Shafiqul Islam Madhu (Khulna-6) and ATM Mazharul Islam (Cumilla-2), and Trinomul BNP nominated Abdur Rab (Sylhet-2).
A total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independent ones submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 07 next.
But the returning officers have accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4 last.
Also read: Jan 7 polls: Aspirants can appeal before EC against RO’s decisions from Tuesday
Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds -- mismatch in 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults and dual citizenship.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the returning officers will distribute electoral symbols among the contenders on December 18.
The candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.
Jan 7 polls: 731 nomination papers rejected, 1985 accepted
The returning officers have accepted a total of 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others submitted by aspirants in the country’s 300 constituencies to run in the 12th parliamentary election scheduled to be held on January 07.
“Out of 2,716 nomination papers submitted throughout the country, a total of 1,985 have been accepted and 731 others have been rejected,” Additional secretary of EC Secretariat Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters on Monday evening.
Also read: Jan 7 polls: Aspirants can appeal before EC against RO’s decisions from Tuesday
The returning officers on Monday completed the scrutiny of nomination papers submitted in the 300 constituencies, starting from last Friday.
Deputy Secretary of EC Secretariat Mahbubar Rahman said the most of 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds -- mismatch in 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults and dual citizenship.
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Now the aggrieved aspirants can appeal before the Election Commission from Tuesday, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over rejection or acceptance of nomination papers.
The Election Commission has already installed 10 booths in Nirbachan Bhaban in the city to receive the appeals from the aspirants till December 09.
The appeals will be received from 10:30am to 4pm every day till December 09. The appeals will be disposed of from December 10 to December 15. The EC will hear and dispose of some 100 appeals a day.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the returning officers will distribute electoral symbols among the contenders on December 18.
Also read: 12th parliamentary elections: EC approves transfer of 47 UNOs
The candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.