Report in The Daily Star, Nov 20, 2023The Election Commission has asked aspiring candidates for the 12th national parliamentary election to remove posters, banners, paintings, billboards, arches, pandals, lightings, and other campaign materials at their own cost. The EC recently sent a letter to the local government division asking to take necessary measures in this regard. As per the EC’s decision, an order has been issued to the local government institutions, including city corporations and…
Posts published in “Bangladesh”
AFP report, Nov 20, 2023DHAKA: Bangladesh’s highest court on Sunday upheld a ban on the country’s largest Islamist party taking part in polls, lawyers said, as political tensions worsen ahead of key January elections. Jamaat-i-Islami, a major opposition party with millions of supporters, was banned from contesting polls in 2013 after high court judges ruled its charter violated the secular constitution of the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people. Jamaat was also barred from participating…
by Ashik Abdullah Apu/Sajjad Hossain/Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary in The Daily Star, Nov 19, 2023Scenes at the Awami League and BNP offices could not be more contrasting. On the capital’s Bangabandhu Avenue, over 50 policemen were struggling to maintain order yesterday afternoon as droves of people arrived with leaders who were buying nomination forms to run for parliament on the AL ticket. By 2:30pm, several thousand cheerful supporters had gathered there. Around the same time, policemen…
by Anowar Hossain & Riadul Karim in Prothom Alo, Nov 19, 2023Dhaka: The allies of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance once again want boat symbol to contest the 12th parliamentary election, to be held on 7 January next year. The alliance partners want to ensure the victory for their important leaders from the constituencies that they will get following their negotiation with the ruling Awami League. Other than this, the allies will also field several…
report in Prothm Alo, Nov 19, 2023A 48-hour shutdown (hartal) enforced by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) began across the country at 6:00am on Sunday BNP imposed the shutdown protesting the ‘unilateral’ announcement of the schedule of the 12th parliamentary election. The party called people to take to the streets to observe the shutdown peacefully. The hartal will in place until 6:00am on Tuesday. Along with BNP, other like-minded political coalitions and parties, as well as…
investigative reportreport in The Daily Star, Nov 19, 2023Nur Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ducked a question about the assassination and sped off when a Canadian journalist approached him in Western Toronto. This was seen in a 42-minute investigative report in the segment “The Fifth Estate” by Canada’s public television CBC, broadcast yesterday morning. This was the first time Nur was caught on video in Canada where he has been living…
By Samsur Rahman in Prothom Alo, Nov 17, 2023A total of 17 out of 44 registered political parties of the country rejected the polls schedule announced by the election commission (EC) on Wednesday evening. Ruling Awami League (AL) and 14 other parties welcomed the polls schedule. The remaining 12 parties are yet to disclose their stance on the issue. The ruling AL is gearing up for the election while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been…
Report in The Daily Star, Nov 17, 2023The BNP yesterday called a 48-hour nationwide hartal from 6:00am Sunday protesting the unveiling of the polls schedule by the Election Commission. Party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing. Rizvi said the party will enforce the strike also to mount pressure on the government to step down, hand over power to a non-party neutral government and release all arrested…
Report in The Daily Star, Nov 17, 2023Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday hinted that many political parties and individuals will eventually decide to contest the national polls before the nomination paper submission deadline. “The last date for submitting nomination form is November 30. Many flowers will bloom by then,” said Quader. He was addressing a press conference at AL’s Dhaka district unit office in Tejgaon on the occasion of election schedule announcement by…
Report in Prothom Alo, Nov 17, 2023Amid widespread speculations about the departure of United States ambassador Peter Haas from Dhaka, the foreign ministry said they are aware of the envoy’s location but will not disclose it. Seheli Sabrin, spokesperson for the ministry, made the statement in a weekly press briefing at the ministry on Thursday. “The government is aware of where US ambassador Peter Haas has gone. However, his location will not be disclosed,” she…
Report in Prothom Alo, Nov 16, 2023Chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal unveils the election schedule at a televised speech on 15 November 2023.Screengrab BTV videoNoting significant differences among political leaderships, chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal asserted that it is not impossible to avoid mutual mistrust and settle differences through a dialogue. In his speech for the nation on Wednesday, he humbly requested all the political parties to find out a solution as…