Election
Presidential election: CEC seeks appointment with Speaker
The chief election commissioner on Sunday sought an appointment from Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury for a meeting about holding the 22nd presidential election.
Confirming the matter, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told reporters that CEC Kazi Habibul Awal communicated with her and the meeting is likely to be held this week.
“During the meeting, CEC would come up with a draft schedule for the election and he would announce the schedule as per his convenient time,” she said.
She said that the Election Commission Secretariat also contacted the Parliament Secretariat on the same day.
Also read: Presidential election within February 23 : EC secretary
There will be no need to summon a Parliament session for the election, as per the law. Rather, a meeting will be called by the CEC for electing the president by the MPs. CEC will preside over that meeting.
If there is only one candidate then that meeting will also not be required.
She said that the detailed schedule of the presidential election will be discussed in the CEC's meeting with her.
The Election Commission will declare a single candidate as the winner as per law.
Besides, EC secretary Jahangir Alam told reporters that the presidential election, due to the obligation of the law, the election must be held between January 23 and February 23. As such, the Election Commission has started its preparation.
Explaining the law, he said that elections should be held within 90 days of the end of the term of the president.
Presidential election within February 23 : EC secretary
The presidential election of Bangladesh will be held within February 23.
Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said this while talking to reporters after a meeting held at EC building on Sunday.
"The process has already started. We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date of the Chief Election Commissioner’s meeting with the Speaker," he said.
Current president Abdul Hamid cannot be elected president for another term as the country’s constitution allows a maximum of two terms for a person in the post of president.
Hamid is the only President who has been serving for two consecutive terms. His second and last tenure will expire on April 24 this year.
On Apr 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the 20th President of Bangladesh.
Read More: EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list
After the end of his first tenure, Hamid also took oath as the president on the same date in 2018 for the second term.
Lawmakers vote in the presidential election, which is supposed to be held in the House with the CEC acting as the election officer.
EU keen to send observers for upcoming general election in Bangladesh: Envoy
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday said the European Union is very interested in sending polls observers to Bangladesh during the next general election.
He also appreciated the positive attitude by the Bangladesh authorities about welcoming foreign observers.
He was talking to reporter after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other EC members at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
Read more: Foreign observers are welcome during next general election: PM Hasina tells British MPs
An 11-member EU delegation led by Whiteley had a wide ranging exchange of views with the CEC and his team on Bangladesh’s preparations for the parliamentary elections, including electoral observation. The general election is likely to be held in first week of January next year.
“Everybody wants a participatory, peaceful, and fair election and that is in everybody's interest,” he added.
Kazi Awal said it will be better if foreign observers monitor elections.
EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list
The Election Commission on Monday started receiving applications for settling the objections to the draft of the updated voter list .
The Commission informed that they will receive applications till January 31 andsettle the objections within February 7.
Read more: Voter numbers increased by 57.74 lakh in draft list: EC
The total number of voters in the country is now over 11.50 crore as the Election Commission on Sunday released a draft of the updated voter list with 57.74 lakh new voters.
The total number of voters in the final voter list published on March 2 last year was 11,32,87,010 which has increased to 11,90,61,158 this year.
The total voter growth rate this time stands at 5.10 percent.
In a letter sent by the Election Commission to the field level officials on December 11 last, everyone was instructed to send the draft list on January 15. Every year the draft list is published on January 2 but this time it did not happen.
There is a provision to update the voter list from January 2 to March 2 as per the voter list rules, EC officials said.
Read more: EC: Updated draft voter list to be published on Jan 15
According to the provision, the final list is published on March 2 after settling the objections to the draft list.
This time, the release of the draft voter list has been delayed, but the schedule of the final list will remain unchanged.
Voter numbers increased by 57.74 lakh in draft list: EC
The total number of voters in the country is now over 11.50 crore as the Election Commission released a draft of the updated voter list with by 57.74 lakh new voters.
The National Identity Card Registration Division of the Election Commission on Sunday released the draft voter list.
EC secretary Jahangir Alam briefed reporters about the draft of the updated voter list at Nirbachon Bhaban on Sunday.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-election held in a disciplined environment: CEC
The total number of voters in the final voter list published on March 2 last year was 11,32,87,010 people which has increased to 11,90,61,158 this year.
The total voter growth rate this time stands at 5.10 percent.
In the updated draft of the voter list, there are 6,03,83,122 male voters which was 5,76,89,529 last year. Besides, 5,86,77,209 female voters were listed this year which was 5,55,97,027 last time.
At the same time, 837 transgender voters have been listed which was 454 last time.
In a letter sent by the Election Commission to the field level officials on December 11 last, everyone was instructed to send the draft list on January 15. Every year the draft list is published on January 2 but this time it did not happen.
Read more: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election
There is a provision to update the voter list from January 2 to March 2 as per the voter list rules, EC officials said.
According to the provision, the final list is published on March 2 after settling the objections to the draft list.
This time, the release of the draft voter list has been delayed, but the schedule of the final list will remain unchanged.
Election Commission started the list updating work from May 20 last year.
B’baria-2 by-polls: 3 independent candidates withdraw, clearing the way for ex-BNP leader Abdus Sattar
Three independent candidates in the by-polls to Brahmanbaria-2 have withdrawn their candidacy.
The three independent candidates are: joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL and general secretary of district Sports Association Mahbubul Bari Chowdhury Montu, former joint secretary of Brahmanbaria district AL Md Moin Uddin Moin, and former leader of Chhatra League Shahjahan Alam Saju.
The candidates, led by district Awami League General Secretary and district Council Chairman Al Mamun Sarker, withdrew their candidacy by going to the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Returning Officer's office around 11:30 on Saturday, said Assistant Returning Officer and district Election Officer Md Zillur Rahman.
Read more: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata
There are now five candidates contesting in the by-elections, including lawyer Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, who resigned from BNP.
Four other candidates are: Jatiya Party's Abdul Hamid Bhasani, Zaker Party's Jahirul Islam Jewel, independently running JP rebel Ziaul Haque Mridha and local BNP leader Abu Asif.
About withdrawing from the by-polls, Md Moin Uddin said, “We have withdrawn due to personal reasons.”
Abdus Sattar was elected as MP from the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency five times.
On January 1, BNP removed Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan from all posts for "violating party decisions and engaging in anti-party activities".
Sattar resigned from all his posts within the party, including the Chairperson's Advisory Council, on December 31 last year.
By-polls to five parliamentary seats will be held on February 1.
The EC will conduct the by-polls to Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2.
Read more: By-polls to 5 vacant seats: AL to start distributing application forms Wednesday
On December 11 last year, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament.
Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit resignation to the Speaker in person.
The MPs sent their resignation through an email on December 10.
Will examine reasons behind slow voting in Rangpur city polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the election commission will examine the reasons behind the slow voting through EVM during the Rangpur City Corporation Election (RCC).
“Some problems have been reported in the Rangpur City Corporation election. We’ve got complaints of slow vote casting through EVMs (electronic voting machines),” the CEC told the reporters after a post-election meeting of Rangpur City Corporation at the Election Commission Bhaban.
“EC does not want to see such problem in future. So discussions are ongoing with all parties,” he said.
Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC
Although there had been less fingerprint problem in RCC election, the vote casting was slow due to various reasons, said the CEC.
With or without BNP, election to be held on time: Razzaque
Awami League presidium member and Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzaque has said the next general election will be held on time whether or not BNP participates.
“The election will be held 0n time as per the constitution. But we will do everything possible until the last minute to ensure that the BNP participates,” he said, expecting greater clarity on the subject by next September.
Razzaque made the remarks on Saturday at the Shaheed Smriti High School reunion and golden jubilee ceremony in Madhupur, Tangail.
Read: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election
“Even without BNP’s participation, the election will be accepted internationally,” he said, adding that a faction of BNP may even participate in the election.
"After assessing and examining the election's overall condition, the world community will make a conclusion,” he added.
The agriculture minister also stated that the Awami League will always keep the door open for dialogue with the BNP.
“Dialogue is the most effective way to solve any problem. The Awami League is always open to dialogue. However, everything should be done in accordance with the constitution,” he said.
He claimed that the BNP is attempting to create chaos prior to the 12th JS election and said, “Recurrence of violence like in 2014-15 in the name of protest will be strictly dealt with. No blockade or strike will be allowed.”
Read: No new dialogue possible with BNP or any other party: CEC
The minister continued by pointing out that the BNP's calls to movement represent repeated failure over the course of the last 14 years.
“They will continue to fail and introduce a new program after failing once more this time. This unsuccessful movement will keep happening again,” he said.
The BNP and 32 like-minded opposition parties separately announced sit-in programs across the country on January 11 as their next course of action, to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and the formation of a poll-time caretaker government.
No irregularities reported yet in Gaibandha by-election: EC Rashida
No irregularities have been reported yet at the polling stations during the Gaibandha by-election, said Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana.
She said this while observing the election on CCTV cameras from the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday morning.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: Festive mood as voting underway
She also said that the voter turnout was low due to cold weather.
"We can see the voting in the CCTV cameras. So far, there has been no problem at the polling centers," she said.
EC IDEA Project DPD (Communications) Squadron Leader Shahriar Alam told reporters that the election is being monitored directly from Dhaka through a total of 1,242 CCTV cameras.
The voting is being monitored by CC cameras from 8 am at the EC control room on the fifth floor of the Election Commission building.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC to take action against 133 officials
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, Election Commissioners Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir, Rashida Sultana and Anisur Rahman are monitoring the polls.
Gaibandha-5 by-polls: Festive mood as voting underway
Voting in the by-election for Gaibandha-5 constituency, which was suspended due to irregularities, is underway with participation of voters in a festive mood.
Voting started at 8 am and will continue till 4:30 pm. No untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report around 10 am.
People were seen standing in long queues since morning, ignoring the cold.
The presence of female voters is comparatively higher than their male counterparts.
A total of 3,39,743 people are expected to exercise their franchise in 145 polling centres. Of them, 1,70,160 are females and 1,69,583 are male.
District Election Officer and Returning officer Abdul Motaleb said that of the 145 polling centres, 72 are consider "important" while 32 are counted as "most important".
Read: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election
All preparations have been taken to hold a smooth, free and fair election, he said.
Elections will be monitored through CCTV cameras as done before.
Rab, police, BGB and Ansar members will remain deployed to hold the election peacefully, said Motaleb.
The candidates of the Gaibandha-5 by-election are: Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Jatiya Party candidate AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju, Bikalpa Dhara candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam and independent candidate Syed Mahbubur Rahman.
The constituency consists of Saghata and Phulchhari upazilas.
On October 12 last year, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the by-election due to “rampant irregularities” on the election day and later the commission fixed January 4 for holding the polls.
Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. Accordingly it was scheduled for October 12.
A three-member committee was formed to look into the election irregularities on October 12 last year.
Following the recommendations of the committee, the Election Commission took punitive actions against 133 officials including an additional deputy commissioner, five sub-inspectors and returning officer of the election.
Read More: EC to delve into slow voting complaint in Rangpur City Corporation Polls