Election Commission
Polls underway at 57 Zila Parishads
Elections at 57 Zila Parishads of Bangladesh began on Monday (October 17, 2022) morning by using electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The voting began at 9:00 am and will continue until 2:00 pm without any break under the supervision of the deputy commissioners who are acting as returning officers, according to the Election Commission.
Voting in the Zila Parishads will be held at 925 booths in 462 centres across the country while 60,866 voters will cast their vote.
Read:EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC
Elected representatives of other local government bodies such as Union Parishads, municipalities and Upazila Parishads are eligible to vote in the election.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Sunday that CCTV cameras will be used in every centre in the Zila Parishad elections just like the recently held Gaibandha-5 elections. The EC suspended the election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat for “widespread malpractices” recorded in the CCTV cameras.
The Election Commission says it will monitor the 57 Zila Parishads polls of Bangladesh through CCTV cameras from a monitoring cell set up in its headquarters in Dhaka.
Read: Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC
EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said the Election Commission is not under any pressure, and is doing its job.
He said this in response to a question from journalists at Nirbachan Bhaban after visiting the Zila Parishad election monitoring cell on Sunday.
Read:Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC
Zila Parishad elections will be held tomorrow (October 17, 2022) – 9am to 2pm – in 57 districts.
The EC will monitor the polls through CCTV cameras, from the monitoring cell at Nirbachan Bhaban.
The Election Commission on Wednesday suspended the by-elections to Gainbandha-5 parliamentary seat over widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation.
The CEC said the practice of using CCTV cameras is recent. “We can monitor the elections from here. This is a good practice.”
“We belong to no party. We want voters to be able to cast their votes. We are using CCTV cameras for ensuring this,” he added.
Read:Deal with any intimidation in next polls, CEC asks DCs, SPs
In response to a question over how the EC will monitor so many centres through CCTV during the national polls, Election Commissioner Alamgir said, “There will be 400,000 polling booths at 40,000 or 42,000 polling stations during the national election. The five election commissioners alone will not monitor the national election, more manpower will be engaged for monitoring.”
In response to another question, the election commissioner said that CCTV cameras will be used in every centre during tomorrow’s Zila Parishad election, as done with Gaibandha-5 by-election.
Voting in the Zila Parishad elections will be held at 925 booths in 462 centres across the country and 60,866 voters will cast their votes.
EC to sit with DCs, SPs ahead of election
The Election Commission on Saturday will hold a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of all 64 districts ahead of the Zilla Parishad election and the next general election.
Zilla Parishad election will be held on October 17 while people will cast their vote in the national election to be held in December 2023 or January 2024.
The meeting will be held on Saturday at the Election Commission auditorium, said an EC circular signed by its deputy secretary Atiar Rahman.
Read: Next Election Commission: 322 names proposed to search committee published
EC joint secretary SM Asaduzzaman said that chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal shall preside over the meeting while other commissioners will also attend the meeting.
The Commission secretariat asked all DCs and SPs of the country to attend the meeting in their circular.
The Commission has already unveiled its action plan for holding the 12th parliamentary polls.
Election Commission independent, can hold fair polls: PM tells VOA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Election Commission is completely “independent” and a system has been established through independent EC to hold “free and fair” elections in Bangladesh.
“Now the Election Commission is completely independent,” she told the Bangla service of Voice of America (VOA) in an interview aired on Tuesday.
The prime minister, now on a visit to the US, responded to a number of questions on democracy, human rights, Rohingya crisis, Digital Security Act and other issues.
Read:PM in Washington: Media in Bangladesh free to criticize govt
She said Bangladesh has progressed much during her three consecutive tenures. “The country didn’t see a downtrend, rather it witnessed advancement.”
The premier said the rate of poverty has been decreased, people are getting food, education and healthcare. “We’re fulfilling all basic needs.”
Responding to a question, PM Hasina described how political parties like BNP and Jatiya Party were born under military dictators and how the dictators seized power illegally.
She said parties which are born under military dictators are not used to developing relationship with common people; rather they are used to rigging votes and take office by force. “They might not like the democratic trend.”
Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, during her visit to Bangladesh, encouraged the government to create an “independent, specialised mechanism” that works closely with victims, families and civil society to investigate allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
When asked about it, the PM said there is National Human Rights Commission in Bangladesh. “They look into these allegations.”
Hasina said wherever any injustice occurs, steps are taken immediately as per the law.
Read:“Not possible for us to take any more people, Rohingyas must go back”
“We’re not abusing human rights, we are protecting human rights,” she said, adding that her government has made people aware of their rights and made sure that people can enjoy those rights.
The Prime Minister referred to killings and disappearances of hundreds of armed forces personnel, Awami League leaders and activists during military dictator Ziaur Rahman. Their families did not even get the bodies and had not been able to know their faults, she remarked.
EVMs in 150 constituencies: EC finalises Tk 8,711cr project
The Election Commission (EC) today approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election.
The project details will soon be sent to the Planning Commission for approval, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said in a press briefing.
Earlier, the project was approved in a meeting of the commission. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, joined the meeting virtually.
Read: Jatiya Party to shun alliances at next election: GM Quader
EC Alamgir said, “The commission earlier decided to use EVMs in 150 constituencies, in the next general election, but 1.5 lakh machines we currently have can be used in highest 70 to 80 constituencies.”
So, the project was approved to procure and maintain new EVMs, he said.
The Election Commission unveiled roadmap for next the general election at a function held at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday.
Read: Next national election by Jan 29, 2024; EVMs to be used in 150 constituencies
On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held late next year.
The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July.
However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.
Read AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader
Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it for talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission’s invitations while 11 parties, including BNP, rejected it.
EC's roadmap for next polls valueless: Chunnu
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Wednesday said the Election Commission's roadmap for the 12th parliamentary election is valueless.
He doubted that the Election Commission (EC) that has no power would be able to conduct a fair election.
As per the law, Chunnu said, the executive branch of the country is supposed to work under the EC during the polls, but nothing is mentioned about what will happen if the executive branch does not listen to the commission.
“So, the executive branch is not bound to obey the directives of the Election Commission,” the Jatiya Party leader said.
He said their party wanted the Election Commission to be empowered by enacting a law so that the commission can take immediate action if anyone disobeys its order. “But the Election Commission does not want to be empowered.”
Chunnu made the comments at the launching programme of an associate body of the Jatiya Party at its chairman’s Banani office.
Earlier in the day, the EC unveiled a roadmap for the 12th parliamentary election at a function at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban.
As per the roadmap, the general election will be held by January 29, 2024, using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 150 constituencies out of 300 across the country.
Chunnu said the Election Commission has been making contradictory comments since the beginning. “They’re saying that it's not their job to bring someone to the polls. Then why did you discuss so much with so many political parties? They said, if everyone wants, the election will be held through ballots. The ruling party wants the use of EVM. Then will the commission use EVMs ignoring the opinions of the majority of the parties?”
He said the Election Commission has decided to buy 2 lakh more EVMs to conduct elections in 150 seats alongside constructing 10 warehouses in 10 regions of the country for EVM storage and maintenance.
Read: Jatiya Party relieves Ranga from all party posts
“For this, the Election Commission has prepared a budget of about Tk9, 000 crore. Such a decision is unacceptable amid the economic crisis of the country,” the Jatiya Party leader observed.
Stating that the people of the country no longer want to see Awami League and BNP in power, he said the two major parties have failed to ensure good governance in the country. “People of the country want to see a third political force. Jatiya Party is trying to be that alternative force.”
Chunnu said Jatiya Party will not be there in any alliance as it is preparing to participate in the election in all three hundred seats. “The Jatiya Party will not go to anyone else's alliance. If any political force wants to join us under the leadership of Jatiya Party, we will consider it.”
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
EC makes itself questionable: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) has brought itself to question by taking the decision to use EVMs in up to 150 seats, ignoring the opinion of most political parties.
“It seems that the Election Commission is implementing the government's agenda,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of the Jatiya Party Dhaka north city unit’s council preparation committee at the party chairman's Banana office.
Also read: AL hails EC decision to use EVMs in 150 JS seats in next polls
Opposing the EC’s move to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next national election, he said the illiterate and poorly educated people of the country still cannot read the names of the candidates and the common people vote in elections by looking at symbols of the candidates.
“Most of the political parties and common people think that the EVMs are vote rigging machines. So, political parties and common people do not want the EVMs to be used in the election,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
In such a reality, he said the decision to use the EVMs in the general election is ill-motivated.
Also read: BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
“Common people think that the Election Commission is working to bring a political party to power,” GM Quader viewed.
Earlier on Tuesday, the EC decided to use the EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year.
The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
BNP on Wednesday turned down the Election Commission’s (EC’s) decision to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in up to 150 seats in the next general election, saying the move was taken as per the government’s desire to help it retain power.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also renewed their demand that the next polls must be held through traditional ballots under a non-partisan government to be conducted by a fresh EC.
“We don’t have any interest in the current Election Commission. We also don't care what they say and do. The main thing is that if there is no change in the government during the polls-time, no Election Commission can hold a credible election,” Fakhrul said.
Fakhrul also said this decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party. “Because, they (AL) sought the use of EVMs in 300 seats, but the EC fixed it in 150 ones through a compromise.
In the dialogues with the EC, he said most of the political parties, even the Jatiya Party, told the Commission that they do not want the EVMs to be used as people’s verdict will not be reflected through the machines.
“Despite opposition from political parties, the current ‘illegal’ Election Commission has taken the decision to use the EVM only to fulfill the government’s desire and to give their (govts’) target of forming the government again a final shape. People will never accept it and neither will we. We completely turn down it.”
He said their party’s position is clear that no election can be held in Bangladesh without a polls-time neutral caretaker government. “The current government must quit immediately for not only their economic failure, but also for political failures of creating a one-party ruling system, and then hand over power to a neutral government dissolving parliament.”
Read: EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC
Later, he said a new Election Commission will have to be formed to arrange a credible, acceptable and inclusive election. “The voting in that election will be done completely through ballots.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the EC decided to use the EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year.
The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
BNP’s press conference was arranged after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies on the occasion of the party’s 441st founding anniversary on September 1.
Fakhrul also announced a two-day programme, including a rally and discussion, to celebrate the founding anniversary.
At the meeting, the leaders of the party and its associate bodies were instructed to make all programmes, including a colourful rally at Nayapaltan, on September 1, a success.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms.
Fakhrul said BNP was actually born at a historical moment for the need of history. “When all the other political parties of Bangladesh failed to deliver and unite the country’s people, BNP was founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman with a new light of hope for people. “
Stating that BNP has been staying in politics for 44 years through many ups and downs, he said many plots were hatched to destroy BNP since the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, Fakhrul said the party has risen like the phoenix under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. “She brought this party to power thrice under her competent leadership. “It’s unfortunate that our leader has now been kept under house arrest.”
Accusing the government of destroying democracy and snatching people’s rights, he said people want BNP to restore democracy and their rights through a movement.
Holding fair polls requires equal role from all sides: Ambassador Haas
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Wednesday laid emphasis on collective efforts to hold free and fair elections in Bangladesh, noting that holding fair elections is a complicated task.
Sharing the US experience, the envoy said holding free and fair elections is a “complicated task” that requires involvement of every part of the society.
“And just to be clear, the United States does not favor any political party in Bangladesh over any other,” he said, adding that the United States is proud of their close partnership with Bangladesh over the past 50 years.
While speaking at the launching ceremony of an e-learning platform titled "Politics Matters" at a city hotel, Haas said the Election Commission, government, media, law enforcement agencies, civil society and political parties – everyone has an important role to play.
The envoy said if anyone of them fails to fulfill their responsibility or any one of them prevents another to fulfill their responsibility, free and fair elections become nearly impossible.
He said they continue to be a strong supporter of this country’s efforts to improve the quality of life for all its citizens.
The ambassador said a fundamental way to improve the quality of life for citizens is to give them the opportunity to participate in free, fair, and transparent elections held in accordance with international standards.
“What better way is there to allow the people to share their voices on what matters to them than through their ability to freely cast their ballot?” he mentioned.
Read:Estimate of Bangladesh money in Swiss Banks is “purely speculative”: Swiss Envoy