Politics
Next national election by Jan 29, 2024; EVMs to be used in 150 constituencies
The next general election in Bangladesh will be held by January 29, 2024 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in 150 constituencies out of 300, according to a roadmap published by the Election Commission.
“Seventeen out of 29 parties who participated in the recent dialogue gave positive opinion on the use of EVMs while 12 rejected use of EVM. The Election Commission thinks that it will not be rational to use EVMs as most of the political parties want. Use of EVMs in 150 constituencies will be rational for balancing the opinions of all parties,” Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib, gave the keynote speech as chief guest in the absence of the CEC.
Read:AL hails EC decision to use EVMs in 150 JS seats in next polls
EC also said the election has to be held by January 24, 2024 as per the constitution.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal could not attend the event due to illness, but four other Election Commissioners along with senior EC officials were present.
The Election Commission (EC) published the roadmap for the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections.
Read: EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC
This was revealed at a function held at the auditorium of the Election Commission building on Wednesday.
The action plan mentions the challenges to holding fair elections, what the EC should do to deal with them, review the activities of the parties, increasing the use of election technology etc.
The EC said that no one has been able to provide proof of EVM rigging in all the elections that have taken place so far.
Read BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
Setting parliamentary constituency boundaries
The roadmap says that a new policy will be made in January 2023 to redefine the boundaries of the parliamentary seats. On the basis of which the Geographical Information System will be discussed with the relevant institutions and experts, and the draft of the constituencies will be published in March 2023. The revised delimitation of 300 constituencies will be gazetted in June after objections to the draft were settled in May.
Voter list
The action plan informs that updates are currently in progress. The updated list will be released on March 2, 2023. With the announcement of the parliamentary election schedule, the voter list of 300 constituencies will be published.
Read Election to 61 district councils (Zila Parishads) on October 17
Polling stations
EC plans to set up 42,000 polling stations. In this case, the work will be undertaken in June 2023. The draft will be published in July, and the objections will be settled on the draft in August. After that, Election Commission will publish the gazette of the polling station 25 days before the polling.
Inspection of parties
The process of reviewing the activities of the registered parties will begin this September. In this case, after reviewing all the information, the Election Commission will decide which party's registration will be maintained in May 2023. The final list of registered parties will be published in June of the same year. Before this, registration of new parties will be announced in May.
Read EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC
Outline of anti-govt 'simultaneous' movement soon: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the outline of the 'simultaneous' movement to oust the government will be presented soon.
"We'll come up before the nation with the final outline of the simultaneous movement as soon as possible," he said.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, the BNP leader also said their party has long been working to forge a greater unity with various political parties.
“Following the talks with the different parties, our (BNP) standing committee meeting yesterday (Monday) decided to finalise the outline of the simultaneous movement,” the BNP leader said.
Read:Ready to take bullets, won’t leave the streets: Abbas
Asked about the nature of the outline, he said the main focus will be on forcing the government to quit for holding a free, fair and acceptable election. “This parliament must be dissolved and power has to be handed over to a neutral government under which a new Election Commission will be constituted, and they’ll create an environment for an inclusive election where all the voters can cast their votes smoothly.”
Besides, Fakhrul said a national government will be formed after that election with the parties that are going to join the simultaneous movement.
About the necessity of the national government, he said it would not be reasonable to repair alone by a single party the damage done by the Awami League to the state system.
“For that reason, we want to include other parties in this process so that we can take decisions based on consensus through discussions about various institutions of the state such as the judiciary, administration, parliament and the media,” the BNP secretary general observed.
He called upon all opposition parties to join BNP’s planned simultaneous movement to oust the current regime and ensure a credible national election in the country.
The BNP leader said that if the political parties take to the streets simultaneously, the movement itself will determine its future course of action.
No formal talks with Jatiya Party
Responding to a question, Fakhrul said they have not had so far any formal talks with the Jatiya Party about the simultaneous anti-government movement.
He, however, said their door is open for any party that wants to join the movement. “We have made it clear that we will wage the movement simultaneously with the parties, individuals and organisations those are against the current authoritarian government and those want to restore democracy and people’s voting rights."
Asked whether BNP had a discussion with Jamaat-e-Islami and about its statement on not being part of the 20-party alliance, Fakhrul said Jamaat has already given a statement on the matter. “We're talking about simultaneous movement now…All parties will carry out the movement from their respective positions. This is what we're talking about."
Police not BNP's opponent
Fakhrul said their party wants the police to perform its constitutional responsibilities as a state organisation. “We never consider the police as our opponent. The police should be friends of the people and we also consider them as friends.”
He, however, alleged that the government is using police to hang onto power illegally by violating the constitution and human rights.
The BNP leader urged the law enforcers not to comply with the government's illegal directives that could lead to accusations of human rights violations against them like RAB.
Fakhrul alleged that some overenthusiastic police officers are attacking BNP’s programmes across the country and firing on the opposition leaders and activists without any justification.
Read:Don’t antagonise people: BNP warns civil servants
Extension of rental power plants’ tenure unjustified
The BNP leader said when the Power Development Board is not able to produce power from many power plants due to lack of energy and the government is giving subsidies of hundreds of crores of taka without getting any power, the tenure of four quick rental power plants has been extended. “It’ll only increase the amount of losses. We demand cancellation of this decision of the government."
He said the main reason behind the move is to plunder public money in the name of capacity charges of the four power plants.
Fakhrul also slammed the government for increasing the prices of some essential drugs used in health care. “We strongly condemn it. The prices of the medicines have been hiked unethically only to create a scope for some businessmen to make a lofty profit. We demand immediate withdrawal of this decision.”
AL leader Sajeda Chowdhury laid to rest
Presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was laid to rest on Monday.
She was buried with state honours at Banani Graveyard around 6:00 pm after a second namaz-e-janaza held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
She was given a guard of honor by the police force before being laid to eternal rest.
Central leaders of Awami League led by party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam were present during her burial.
Also read: AL leader Sajeda Chowdhury passes away
Earlier around 11 am her first namaz-e-janaza was held at MN Academy school premises in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur.
Thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the janaza braving inclement weather. She was given a guard of honour before the janaza.
After the janaza and tributes, the leaders and family members of Sajeda Chowdhury left for Dhaka with her mortal remains around 12 pm.
Her body was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 2:40 and was kept there till 4:15 pm so that people from all walks of life could pay homage.
Also read: First namaz-e-janaza of Sajeda Chowdhury held
There, on behalf of the President, military secretary Major General Salahuddin Islam and military secretary Major General Kabir Ahmad on behalf of the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sajeda Chowdhury at around 2:45 PM.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Qader on behalf of the party, president Al Nahiyan Khan Joy and general secretary Lekhak Bhattacharya on behalf of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Dr. Sharfuddin Ahmad on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dr Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman on behalf of Dhaka University along with the representatives of many other political and culture parties and organisations placed floral wreaths to pay last tribute to the deceased.
After paying respect to the dead body of Sajeda Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader said, "Sajeda Chowdhury appeared as a brave leader during the party's hard times and she was a very trusted colleague of our leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She has been covering a big chapter in the history of Bangladesh politics."
Faridpur-2 MP Sajeda Chowdhury passed away at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Sunday night at the age of 87.
The deputy leader of the House was admitted to hospital with post-Covid-19 complications two weeks ago.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid expressed shock and deep grief at the death of Sajeda.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen also mourned her death.
Deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader also mourned her passing.
Born in 1935, Sajeda became the deputy leader of the House in 2019 for the third consecutive term.
She was also a Language Movement veteran and one of the organisers of the country's Liberation War.
The 87-year-old served as environment and forest minister and was awarded the Swadhinata Padak in 2010.
Ready to take bullets, won’t leave the streets: Abbas
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Monday said their party leaders and activists will rather take bullets in chest, but will not leave the streets until the fall of the current government.
Speaking at a rally in the city’s Segunbagicha area in the capital, he also said their party will come up with a different strategy of movement this time since law enforcers have resorted to firing at their peaceful programmes.
“We’ll reach a situation someday when processions and rallies will be held at every lane and locality of Dhaka, but you (govt) won’t be able to resist it. We’ll see how many police you have and how many activists we have. We won’t spare if anyone tries to shoot us,” the BNP leader said.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, alleged that their party has been obstructed from holding rallies by closing roads and traditional venues like Press Club and Paltan.
Also read: No non-partisan govt, EC won’t be abolished: Tofail Ahmed
“We won’t keep the streets only in your hands. We’ll surely take over the streets. The leaders of BNP and its student and youth wings have learned how to receive bullets. So, there’s nothing to be worried and we’ll take bullets in our chests, but won’t leave the streets until this regime is ousted,” he warned.
As part of BNP’s plan to hold 16 rallies in the capital in the current month, Shahbagh and Ramna zones of its Dhaka south city unit arranged the programme in protest against the increase in prices of essentials, fuel and transport fares and the killing of three opposition leaders in police firing.
Abbas said police shot dead Swechchasebak Dal leader Abudr Rahim, Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam in Bhola and Jubo Dal leader Shaon Prodhan in Narayanganj by attacking BNP’s programmes against the price hike in daily essentials.
He said BNP leaders and activists are now being implicated in many ‘false’ cases. “But we won’t give up so easily in the face of firing and cases.”
The BNP leader said the movement was carried out in a traditional process during the anti-Ershad movement in the 90s as there was no police firing at that time.
“Since firing (at our programmes) is going on, we’ll take a different strategy of the movement in a different way. The movement can’t go on always the same way. We’ll definitely take suitable measures based on the evolving situation,” he observed.
Abbas said Shaon, Rahim and Noor-e-Alam sacrificed their lives in the recent movement while many people in the past laid down their lives for the liberation of the country and for the protection of democracy.
Also read: Don’t antagonise people: BNP warns civil servants
“We’re also ready to sacrifice our lives to save the country and its independence and sovereignty. I promise you that I will be there on the frontline of the movement at the right time. But we want to ensure a safe future for our children. We can’t under any circumstances leave behind our new generation in the hands of a hyena-like regime of Awami League,” he said.
Abbas said the prices of essential commodities will not go down as long as the Awami League government is in power. “This regime has made the poor people poorer and those living abroad richer. Aziz Khan of Summit Group, a brother of (AL leader Farooq Khan) is one of the richest persons in Singapore. Many such rich people from a poor country (Bangladesh) are now among the richest men in many countries like Aziz Khan in Singapore.”
No non-partisan govt, EC won’t be abolished: Tofail Ahmed
There will be no non-partisan government in Bangladesh, Awami League (AL) Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed, said today.
“There will be no non-partisan government and the Election commission will not be abolished,” he said while talking to reporters after attending a views-exchange meeting with party leaders held at Sadar upazila parishad auditorium in Bhola district.
Read Govt doesn't want a normal election: GM Quader
“Election commission has been formed through rules and Chief Election Commissioner and others were appointed through search committee. BNP should thank its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for sustaining the party through speeches and he should be given a Nobel Prize for it,” said Tofail.
Talking about natural gas in Bhola, the Awami League MP said the gas crisis will be mitigated once Bhola-Barishal Bridge opens.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of Awami League and deputy leader of the House, Tofail Ahmed said she was a great leader and made a great contribution to the party.
Read Don’t antagonise people: BNP warns civil servants
Momen mourns Sajeda Chowdhury
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed shock and deep grief at the death of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House.
Sajeda, Faridpur-2 MP, breathed her last at 11:40pm at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
Read: AL leader Sajeda Chowdhury passes away
Momen also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended his heartfelt sympathy to the deputy leader of the House and her family.
"Veteran politician Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury had played a great role during the Liberation War of 1971. Her death is an irreparable loss to our political arena and the country at large," the foreign minister said.
PM mourns Sajeda Chowdhury's death
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed shock and deep grief at the death of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House.
Sajeda, Faridpur-2 MP, breathed her last at 11:40pm at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended her heartfelt sympathy to the deputy leader of the House and her family.
AL leader Sajeda Chowdhury passes away
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House, passed away Sunday night. She was 87.
Sajeda, Faridpur-2 MP, breathed her last at 11: 40pm at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, Prime Minister's special assistant and Awami League Office Secretary, Barrister Biplab Barua said.
The deputy leader of the House was admitted to hospital with post-Covid-19 complications two weeks ago.
Also, Sajeda underwent bypass surgery in 2015.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed shock and deep grief at the death of Sajeda. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also mourned her death. Deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader also mourned her passing.
Born in 1935, Sajeda became the deputy leader of the House in 2019 for the third consecutive term.
She was also a Language Movement veteran and one of the organisers of the country's Liberation War.
The 87-year-old served as environment and forest minister and was awarded the Swadhinata Padak in 2010.
Govt doesn't want a normal election: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said the Awami League government does not want a normal general election to be held in the country as it has lost confidence in itself.
"The EVM is a machine for peaceful vote-rigging. After losing confidence in itself, the government does not want normal elections," he said.
Speaking at meeting with the National Medical Technologist Council at the Banani office auditorium of the Jatiya Party chairman, GM Quader also said all parties, except the government and some of its allies, are against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections.
"But the Election Commission (EC) has suddenly decided to conduct the elections through EVMs. It's now saying the election will be held through ballots if all parties want," he added.
The Jatiya Party chief said the election through ballot papers is acceptable to all.
About the EC's decision to install closed-circuit television cameras in the polling stations, he said if the intention is not good, nothing will turn out to be good: "The EC should work with good intention."
Referring to the ongoing political violence, GM Quader said, the violence will escalate further if the election is not held in a free and fair and acceptable manner as the next poll will be a "fight for existence."
He said the political culture of the country has reached a point where everyone considers their opponent as an enemy. "Everyone thinks that the losers will be killed and eliminated. We don't want such a political culture."
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said their party wants every party to get the scope for politics and working together for the welfare of the country and people.
He said they also want the government to organise a peaceful election through discussions with the political parties as politics of intolerance will not bring anything good for anyone.
Saying that people are going through serious ordeals to cope with skyrocketing prices of daily essentials, he called upon the government to take steps for lowering their prices.
Don’t antagonise people: BNP warns civil servants
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday warned the administration that the outcome will not be good if the people are made the opponents.
Speaking at a rally he also asked law enforcers not to violate human rights by shooting at peaceful programmes of the opposition parties if they want to avoid harsher measures such as sanctions by the international community.
"We would like to tell the administration very clearly, don’t make people your opponents. You have come from people and your salaries are given from the people's tax money on which you run your families. So respect people. Do not obstruct the peaceful programmes,” Fakhrul said.
He urged the members of the police and other law enforcement agencies not to open fire on opposition leaders and activists without any justification only to obey the illegal order of the government. “Sanctions have been imposed on RAB. Similarly, sanctions can be imposed on any force if it violates the law and violates human rights."
Read: EC out to arrange stage-managed election: GM Quader
As part of BNP’s plan to hold 16 rallies in the capital in the current month, Uttara east zone of its Dhaka north city unit arranged the programme on Uttara's Powell Convention Road in protest against the increase in prices of essentials, fuel and transport fares and killing of three opposition leaders in police firing.
Fakhrul bemoaned that there are no human rights in the country while people are shot and killed on trivial matters and picked up by law enforcers in plainclothes.