EC
Holding talks on EC without neutral govt pointless: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said there is no point in holding talks on the formation of the Election Commission since it is not possible to hold a credible election without a polls-time neutral government.
“We would like to clearly say there’s no use of playing a game in the name of election and holding a dialogue. It’s already been proven that without a polls-time neutral government, elections can never be fair. So, there’s no benefit of talks,” he said.
Speaking at a rally in Tangail, he said the current government must resign and the Election Commission will have to be formed under the caretaker government to hold a credible national election.
Tangail district unit BNP arranged the rally in Tangail Sadar field demanding party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. The party also orgainsed five other rallies in Jashore, Bogura, Dinajpur, Brahmanbaria and Habiganj the same day to push for the same demand.
Fakhrul said the President is holding talks with political parties for the formation of the next Election Commission though the current government has destroyed the election system. "As long as Awami League is in power, there’ll be no use of forming the Election Commission," he said.
The BNP leader said Khaleda Zia is critically ill and she has now been fighting for life in the capital’s Evercare Hospital.
READ: BNP activists clash with police in Habiganj
He said though doctors are repeatedly saying to send the BNP chief abroad for advanced treatment to save her life, the government is not paying heed to it.
Fakhrul said they have long been observing various programmes demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad and urging the government to let her receive advanced treatment on humanitarian grounds. “They show us law, though they’ve been in power unlawfully using the state machinery.”
He called upon the people of all walks of life to get united and wage a fierce movement to establish a pro-people government ousting the current ‘monstrous’ regime. “It’s our responsibility to protect the country, its constitution and our leader Khaleda Zia.”
In the Jashore rally, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said their party will not participate in any election under the current government.
“One-party elections won’t be accepted by the people of this country. BNP will prevent such an election,” he told the rally in Jashore Town Hall field.
In the Bogura rally, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said no foreign power can protect a government when people do not want it anymore. "People are our strength and we’ve to wage the movement across the country to oust the government,” he said.
Speaking at the rally in front of the district BNP office, the BNP leader warned the government that police will not be there for them when they sense any danger.
BNP organizing secretary advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu said arrangements should be made to release Khaleda Zia and send her abroad for advanced treatment by December 30.
In the Dinajpur rally, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the government will have to bear the responsibility for the deteriorating health condition of Khaleda since she was not given any treatment during her stay in jail.
READ: 300 injured in ‘police attack’ on BNP’s Habiganj rally: Rizvi
“Not only BNP, but the people of the country will not accept if anything bad happens to Khaleda Zia,” he said.
Nazrul alleged that though all the doctors say that her treatment is not possible in Bangladesh, the government is not allowing Khaleda to get advanced treatment abroad.
In fact, he said, Khaleda is being pushed towards death by not giving her any scope to receive treatment abroad.
Dinajpur district unit BNP arranged the rally in front of the party office at Jail Road of the district town.
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists locked into a clash with police over holding a rally in the district town, leaving an unspecified number of people, including four law enforcers, injured.
As the leaders and activists of the party and associate bodies gathered in the district town and tried to go to the rally venue, police obstructed them, triggering a clash.
Amid a chase and counter-chase, senior BNP leaders, including standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, chairperson’s adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque and organizing secretary Skahwat Hossain Jibon addressed the rally.
Presidential dialogue on EC: Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal to meet on Wednesday
President Abdul Hamid will meet the leaders of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) at Bangabhaban on Wednesday as he continues discussion with the political parties on the formation of the next Election Commission.
The current EC is scheduled to expire on February 14 next year.
The dialogue, second in the series, is scheduled to be held at 4 pm, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.
The president opened the dialogue on Monday with Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition party in Parliament.
The eight-member JaPa delegation was led by its chairman GM Quader.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) has been invited to hold the dialogue at 4pm on December 26 while Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) will meet the president at 6pm the same day, Abedin said.
Read: President opens dialogue on new EC, meets JaPa delegation
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Khelafat Majlish will participate in the discussion at 4 pm and 6 pm on December 27 respectively while Bangladesh Workers' Party is scheduled to join on December 28 at 4pm.
On December 29, Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) was invited to hold the dialogue at 4pm while Islami Oikya Jote exchange will exchange their views with the President at 6pm on the same day.
Now there are 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website. But only nine parties have representation in Parliament.
The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.
EC going to be formed as per govt wish: BNP
BNP on Tuesday opposed the formation of the next Election Commission (EC) through a search committee, saying that the government will only induct the people of its choice in the Commission through this process.
“They (govt) are now talking much about the formation of the Election Commission and the search committee. What’s he search committee? Following this system, you’ll constitute it (EC) with persons whoever you want,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The BNP leader made the remarks while inaugurating a conference of representatives of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
Also read: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike
The present election commission will complete its five-year term in February 2022 and the next Commission will arrange the 12th parliamentary election to be held at the end of 2023.
On October 4, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
Fakhrul also slammed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remarks that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder is suffering from “mental problems”.
“They (AL leaders) have become desperate and they’re making various comments against Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder as he has spoken the truth. They’re also saying he is mentally ill. But you (govt) are mentally ill,” he said.
The BNP leader said ruling party leaders are not coming to people as they have long been staying indoors and joining programmes virtually.
“You (AL leaders) don’t come out of your houses. You make many remarks, but we don’t see your leaders outside their homes. You’re doing everything virtually staying indoors — someone from Gonobhaban and some others from ministers’ residences,” he said.
Fakhrul urged the ruling party leaders to come to people and talk to them to understand their pulses. “Arrange an election and create such a situation so that people can cast their votes and only then you will see your actual position. You won’t even get an escape route.”
He said the next election must be held under a non-party and neutral government, enabling people to freely exercise their right to franchise and elect the representatives of their choice.
Also read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
Powerful bureaucrats
The BNP secretary general said bureaucrats are now running the country as they have become more powerful than Awami League.
“Where’s Awami League now? Amla (Bureaucrats) League is now all in all. Wherever you go, you will see DC, SP and OC hold big power. They’re even bigger than them (Awami League leaders). They themselves say that the king of fish is hilsa and the king of the country is police,” he observed.
Fakhrul said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government must be held accountable someday for creating such a situation in the country.
He urged the leaders and activists of Krishak Dal to strengthen their organisation and play a role in the upcoming movement for forcing the government to quit and restore the election-time neutral government system.
“We’ve many expectations from those who came to new leadership. We hope Krishak Dal will truly become an organisation of mass people. Revitalise Krishak Dal and reach out to people at this bad time so that we can remove the current monstrous regime and establish a government and parliament of people,” Fakhrul said.
He also asked the newly-formed partial committee of the Krishak Dal to constitute a full-fledged one within a short time.
END/UNB/ARJ/SAM/1718 hrs
Forming EC by enacting law not possible now: Law Minister
The Election Commission will be constituted through a search committee as it is not possible to form it through enacting a law right now, said law Minister Anisul Haque on Thursday.
“I’m not saying we won’t enact a law for forming the Election Commission as stated in the constitution. But it won’t be possible right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the tenure of the current EC will expire in February next,” he said.
The minister said this while responding to questions from journalists at a programme held at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the city.
The minister said it has already been cleared by the Prime Minister recently that the Election Commission will be formed through a search committee.
“The President had sought opinion from all political parties when the search committee was formed. The gazette on the search committee was published when all agreed on it. The search committee gazette is not a law but close to a law as it was formed with a consensus and as per the President’s decision,” he said.
Read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the process of constituting the Election Commission (EC) through a search committee is a deception with people.
“We’ve the experience that the Election Commission through a search committee is formed solely with their (govt’s) people. Secondly, it’s nothing but a deception with people as they (govt) say the Commission is formed not by us, but by a search committee,” he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office about the Prime Minister’s different comments on the next election, EC and BNP, the BNP leader said the current government earlier formed the EC completely with the people of its own choice and used them during the elections.
Mentioning that the current EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, was also constituted through a search committee, Fakhrul said it absolutely played a ‘partisan role in favour of Awami League during the 11th parliamentary polls.
He said elections will never be free, fair and acceptable under any election commission unless an election-time neutral government is there to oversee the polls.
“So, an impartial election-time government is very urgent to hold a fair and credible election. The election won’t be fair even if it is held under the best Election Commission without the government’s cooperation. This is the main crisis,” Fakhrul observed.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
“The President will form a search committee and the election commission will be constituted through this search committee,” she said, replying to a question at a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
BNP is people’s ‘choice’
As his attention was drawn to the PM’s comment as to why people will vote for BNP, Fakhrul said people have got fed up with the government’s ‘misrule’. “So, people will vote for BNP to get rid of them (AL). They’ve created such a situation in the country that there’s no security of people’s lives and livelihoods. There’s nothing but fear and terror all around.”
He said Awami League had promised to give people rice at Tk 10 per kg, but it is now not positive to buy one kg rice at Tk 70. “They also assured the farmers of giving them free fertilizer, but the price of fertilizer is now skyrocketing. “People will vote for BNP because they want to cast their vote for those for whom they want to. They’ll also do it for the guarantee of getting jobs.”
The BNP leader said many mills and factories have been closed due to the government’s failure to protect those by giving incentive packages during the Covid pandemic.
“The informal sector has lost capital while employment in the sector has declined. Unfortunately, the government has taken the country to a place from where people now want to get back. They also want to be freed from the grasp of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina and this illegitimate government,” he observed.
Recalling their party’s many successes in running the country and boosting economic progress, he said people will vote for BNP for peace and development.
“The government used to say it has carried out huge development activities and made a lot of progress. If they’ve developed the country so much, then why are they not holding a fair election and sitting with political parties to solve the political crisis? I would like to ask them to hold a fair election under a caretaker government and then they will see whether people vote for them,” Fakhrul said.
He said neither the nation nor the international community has confidence in the country’s current electoral system.
No ‘alternative’ to movement
Fakhrul warned their party together with people will surely take to the streets to realise their demand for holding the next polls under a caretaker government.
"The people of this country must wage a movement. People had joined a movement for a caretaker government in the past and they’ll do it again,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party has now only one demand for the restoration of a polls-time neutral government. “We want nothing else.”
No more polls under AL
He said their party will neither accept nor participate in the polls like 2014 and 2018 ones. “We would like to clearly say there would be no more elections under the Awami League government.”
Fakhrul said the government should sit with the political parties to reach a consensus over the formation of a polls-time neutral government and an acceptable election commission for holding a meaningful election. “Otherwise, the election will become a farce. “
848 UPs go to polls in second phase on Nov 11
The second phase of elections to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) will be held on November 11, while the seventh phase polls to 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-polls on November 02.
The election dates were finalised at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC), held with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedules for 848 UPs, 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 constituency after the meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
According to the schedule announced for UPs, the deadline for nomination submission is October 17, while the date for scrutiny of nomination papers is October 20 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is October 26. The 848 UPs are located in the country’s 63 out of 64 districts.
Read: Cumilla-7 by-polls: Pran Gopal elected unopposed
Polls to 10 municipalities: the 7th phase polls to 10 municipalities in 10 different districts will be arranged on November 02.
Bangladesh needs no UN help for holding elections: Information Minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said Bangladesh needs no assistance from the United Nations (UN) to arrange elections since the country’s Election Commission (EC) is capable enough to hold fair and transparent polls.
“The Election Commission of Bangladesh is very strong, and I don't think it needs anyone’s help to hold elections,” he said.
The minister came up with the remarks at a programme of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) as journalists sought his reaction to UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo’s comment on the UN’s assistance for holding elections in Bangladesh.
Stating that the EC has already conducted many elections in Bangladesh in a very fair and transparent manner, Dr Hasan said Bangladesh is not Somalia or Ethiopia that it needs the UN’s help to hold elections here.
He, however, said it is completely a different issue if anyone wants to observe elections in Bangladesh. “But the Election Commission doesn’t need any assistance to conduct elections.”
Also read: UN to provide electoral assistance to Bangladesh if requested: Mia Seppo
On Sunday, Mia Seppo said the UN will provide electoral assistance to Bangladesh only if there is any request on that particular front.
Responding to questions at “DCAB Talk” at the Foreign Service Academy, she also said, “The UN doesn’t provide electoral assistance unless we’re asked to.”
About seeking the bank account details of journalist leaders by Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the Information Minister said the government can seek bank account details of anybody for any reason. “The bank accounts of MPs, government employees and the leaders of various business organisations are also sought. There’s nothing wrong to ask for bank account details of anybody.”
He said it was not supposed to be published in newspapers that the journalists’ bank account details were sought. “This is a question as to why it was published in the media. Another question that’s being raised by the journalists is why the bank accounts were asked with the name of organisations. I think if someone is transparent, there’s no reason to be worried about it.”
The BFIU of the Bangladesh Bank recently issued letters to the commercial banks asking for details of bank accounts of 11 journalist leaders.
Asked about the government’s move regarding the YouTube-based news channel after closing IPTVs by BTRC, Dr Hasan said his ministry only gives registration to the IPTVs, but they get domain allocation from BTRC. “The question is how they got the domain allocation. I think one has to be very careful from now on before allocating a domain.”
He said there would be a tripartite meeting of Information, Posts and Telecommunications and the ICT ministries on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
Also read: Next election must be under neutral govt: Fakhrul
Later, the minister unveiled the cover of BSRF’s magazine, 'BSRF Barta', at the meeting room of the Information Ministry at the Secretariat.
BSRF president Tapan Biswas and general secretary Masudul Haque were, among others, present at the programme.
Govt working to constitute EC as per constitution: Quader
Awami League general secretary and Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the concerned ministry is working for the formation of the Election Commission in line with the constitution.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting at the party's central office.
“The Election Commission will be formed in accordance with our constitution following the existing legal process of our country. The concerned ministry of the government is working in this regard.”
Also read: India assured Bangladesh of stopping border killing, says Quader
Quader said ahead of the formation of the new Election Commission next year, the BNP has started a new conspiracy centering its formation.
Referring to BNP’s representation in Search Committee last time, Quader said, "One of them is still there. He gave notes of dissent, disagrees with the Election Commission. That is the beauty of democracy. However, from time to time he created such a situation that put the Election Commission under question. ”
Quader said that the BNP is hatching a series of conspiracies without practicing internal democracy in the 'series' meeting.
Also read: Next election must be under neutral govt: Fakhrul
"This series meeting is a secret meeting to shape the series conspiracy. There is nothing democratic here. They are just planning how to stop the government, how to destabilize the country, how to provoke various evil forces as the BNP is the trusted place of the communal forces in Bangladesh. ”
Sylhet by-election to be held on Sept 4
By-election to Sylhet-3 constituency will be held on September 4, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
Election Commission secretary M Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedule at a press briefing at EC office in Dhaka.
The constituency fell vacant after its MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury died of coronavirus on March 11.
The election was scheduled to be held on July 28 but it was deferred twice due to surge in Covid-19 cases.
Also read: Sylhet-3 by-election postponed until Aug 5
On July 26, the High Court stayed the by-election to the constituency till August 5 due to the worsening Covid situation in the country.
Later, the court asked to complete the by-election by September 7.
The constituency comprises three upazilas—Dakkhin Surma, Fenchuganj and Balaganj.
Habibur Rahman Habib got the AL ticket for contesting the polls while the other candidates are Mohammad Atiqur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Junaid Mohammad Mia of Bangladesh Congress and Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury as independent.
Also read: Sylhet Regional Election Officer dies of Covid
Some 3.5 lakh voters are eligible in the polls.
The candidates will be allowed for campaigning from 8 am on September 1 to 8 am on September 2.
Sylhet Regional Election Officer dies of Covid
Two staff of the Election Commission, including Sylhet Regional Election Officer (REO) Md Israil Hossain, died of Covid-19 on Sunday.
The Sylhet REO breathed his last in the afternoon at a city hospital, Director (Public Relations) of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman told UNB.
Israil Hossain was infected with Coronavirus. He was taken to the ICU of the hospital after deterioration of his condition.
READ: Upazila election officer dies of Covid-19
Meanwhile, an EC employee Mohammad Enamul Haque, who acted as an office assistant cum computer typist at Brahmanpara Upazila Election Office in Cumilla, died of Covid at the age of 44 in the morning. He left his wife and a son behind to mourn his death.
On July 7 last, Rajnagar Upazila Election Officer in Moulvibazar Alif Laila, 46, died of the coronavirus.
With them, seven staff of the EC died of the Coronavirus.
READ: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 200+ deaths, 11,291 new cases recorded
So far, a total of 160 officials and employees of the EC got infected with coronavirus and of them 71 ones have already recovered.