Election Commissioner Mohammad Alamgir has said the upazila elections will begin in the country in phases in the last week of April and continue until the last week of May. He disclosed this information at the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the capital on Tuesday (Jan 23) . “The elections may be held by using EVM or ballot. Even, the elections can be held with the coordination of EVM or ballot,” he said.   Regarding the mode of conducting elections, Commissioner Alamgir remained uncertain about whether electronic voting machines (EVM) or traditional ballot papers would be used. He said, "The elections may use EVM or ballot. We are considering both options, and the decision might involve a combination of EVM and ballot."

Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam has said 27% votes were cast in seven hours from 8am to 3pm on Sunday in the 12th national parliamentary election.  The EC Secretary said this at a press briefing at the media centre of Election Commission around 3:15pm. “During the period, 25% votes were cast in Dhaka division, 27% in Chattogram, 22% in Sylhet, 31% in Barishal, 32% in Khulna, 26% in Rajshahi, 26% in Rangpur and 29% in Mymensingh,” the EC Secretary said.  The voting started at 8am and will continue until 4pm without any break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,103 voting centres across the country. A total of 1,970 candidates, including 1,534 from 28 political parties and 436 independents, are vying in the polls. Of the candidates, 266 from the ruling Awami League (AL), 265 from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 135 from Trinomul BNP, 66 from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), 122 from National People's Party (NPP), 13 from Jatiya Party (JP) and 10 from Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh are contesting in the polls. A total of 90 female candidates, including from political parties and independents, and 79 from ethnic minority and other groups are vying in the polls.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued an order to keep scheduled banks open on next Friday and Saturday (Jan 5-6), two days ahead of the 12th national election. On Wednesday (Jan 3), the governor of Bangladesh Bank received a letter from Atiar Rahman, deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat.   The branches in Dhaka, Chittagong, and other metropolitan cities, districts, and upazilas should remain open for two days with limited manpower so that the EC Secretariat, returning officers, and related parties can withdraw money. The EC, however, said the bank officials who have been given duty as polling officers should be kept out of this.  The national election is scheduled for January 7 for which a general holiday has been declared nationwide on the polling day.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to withdraw the officers-in-charge (OCs) of Shailkupa and Harinakundu police stations of Jhenaidah district. This decision was taken at the meeting of the EC today (Dec 23), EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters. Ashok Kumar said in light of the reports of the Returning Officer and the Superintendent of Police, the commission has decided to withdraw the two OCs as the allegations of negligence of duty in the two respective police stations have been proved. Meanwhile, the EC has written to the senior secretary of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs to withdraw the two OCs and appoint suitable officers in their place. It is said in the letter that the EC has taken the decision to conduct the 12th parliamentary elections in a fair and impartial manner.  

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to deploy the armed forces countrywide for 13 days from December 29 to January 10 to assist the civil administration in holding the January 7 polls. Members of the armed forces member will be stationed at different "nodal points" and convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan area, an EC letter said today (Dec 18). The letter said that armed forces members will be deployed in coordination with returning officers. The commission sent the letter to the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division. An executive magistrate will accompany the armed forces, the letter said.  

The commission has asked for ballot papers to reach the polling centres on the morning of polling day for the first time. In this regard The EC issued a circular today (Dec 18). It is the first time that the commission has asked for ballot papers to reach the polling centres on the morning of polling day. According to the circular, the timing of delivery of ballot papers to polling centres located in hilly, haor, baor, char or island areas or areas far from the district or upazila headquarters or metropolitan areas, should be determined by the ROs. Respective returning officers will have to make plans for delivering the ballor papers on the morning of polling day and get those approved by the Election Commission by December 31, 2023. Generally, during parliamentary elections, ballot boxes are sent to polling centres on the afternoon or evening before the polling day. Presiding officers and law enforcement agencies took ballot papers to the centres on the previous day. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told reporters at the EC office in the capital, "As far as possible, the ballots will reach [polling centres] on the morning of polling day." The polling agents will have to be there to see that the polling boxes are empty and the ballot papers reached the polling station in the morning, he said. Asked why the EC has taken this step, "There was demand for this from many, and this will increase transparency." EC officials said that they took the steps to send the ballots on polling day morning to avoid "allegations or controversy" over voting taking place at night instead of polling day.  

A total of 1,896 candidates will take part in the January 7 Jatiya Sangsad election.   Independent aspirants and aspirants from 27 registered political parties make up the number, said Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam today at a press briefing.   Though, BNP and some other political parties have denied to participate in upcoming  JS polls. A total of 347 aspirants have withdrawn their candidacies, he said after the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy ended.    

Uzbekistan has invited India's Election Commission to witness a 'historic' referendum it is holding on April 30 on a series of amendments to the country's Constitution. Uzbekistan's ambassador to India, Dilshod Akhatov, said on Tuesday that the constitutions of 190 countries, including India, were studied to bring holistic and comprehensive changes to the constitution of the country. In an address at a seminar on constitutional reforms, Akhatov said his country has witnessed significant reforms in the last few years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the changes to the Constitution have been part of the overall initiative. "The country has been going through historic transformations in the last few years. The draught constitution has been prepared after examining the various modern global laws, norms, and constitutions of 190 countries, including India," he said. "Our Constitution will be a holistic and comprehensive one that will take Uzbekistan on a new path of growth, development, and prosperity," Akhatov said. The ambassador said the referendum seeks to change about two-thirds of the existing constitution of Uzbekistan. Another official said India's Election Commission has been invited to witness the 'historic' referendum on the constitutional reforms on April 30. The ties between India and Uzbekistan have been on an upswing in the last few years. Both sides have shown keen interest in further expanding the ties in a number of areas, including trade and investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges. President Mirziyoyev had talked about the need for constitutional reform in November 2021 in his inaugural speech, specifying that the proposal has come from the people of the country. The envoy said more than 2,22,000 proposals from the general public were received during discussions on the constitutional reform. Beruniy Alimov, an assistant professor at the New Media Education Centre at the Uzbekistan State World Language University, said that some of the new provisions in the Constitution were focused on protecting the human rights of the citizens, enhancing their dignity, and ensuring their freedom. 'The Constitution provides that the state will assume a number of new obligations to reduce poverty, provide employment, and address social issues effectively. It shows that Uzbekistan is becoming a social state,' he said at the seminar. "The highest duty of the state is to ensure human rights and freedom. According to the new norms, the ambiguities arising in the legislation will be interpreted in favour of the citizens," he said. Alimov said the Constitution will strengthen guarantees of personal rights and freedoms of citizens in accordance with the most advanced international standards.

President M Abdul Hamid today (Wednesday) asked the Election Commission (EC) and all concerned to discharge its duties impartially with courage. He came with the directives as a-six-member EC delegation led by its Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal met him at Bangabhaban this evening. Later, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the newsmen at Bangabhaban. Congratulating the CEC and the Commissioners, the President said the elections are very important in the democratic process and the EC has a key role to play in conducting fair polls.   Noting that power is linked with discharge of duties, the President said proper exercise of power is very important in discharging duties appropriately. “All the elections, including the national polls, would be fair and acceptable under the supervision of the new Election Commission”, the head of the state hoped. He also called upon the Election Commission as well as all political parties, including the executive branch  to play a responsible role for holding a free, fair and credible  election. The Press Secretary said during the meeting, the new Chief Election Commissioner and the Commissioners sought full cooperation and guidance of the President in discharging their duties. Election Commissioners -- Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Begum Rashida Sultana, Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman - - and EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandker were in the delegation. Secretaries concerned to the President were present on the occasion. Source: BSS AH

President M Abdul Hamid today (Saturday) formed Election Commission (EC) with former Senior Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).     The president also appointed a former judge, two former civil servants and a retired military officer as election commissioners (ECs).    The four ECs are former District and Sessions Judge Begum Rashida Sultana, Brigadier General (Rted) Ahsan Habib Khan and former senior secretaries Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman.     "The president today appointed the CEC and the four ECs as per the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 118(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh," said two separate gazette notifications issued over the reconstitution of the EC.     President Hamid appointed the CEC and the ECs from the recommended list of 10 names submitted by the Search Committee, which was constituted on February 5 as per the newly enacted 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act 2022'.    The tenure of the immediate past election commission led by CEC KM Nurul Huda expired on February 14.  Source: BSS AH