Twenty-five candidates abstained from voting in the 12th national election, citing irregularities while the Election Commission (EC) nullified the candidature of Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury of Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) seat. The voting took place from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday, with these candidates announcing their boycott during this period. Earlier, the EC postponed the election for the Naogaon-2 following the death of independent candidate Aminul Islam.   The EC ensured thorough preparations for fair, acceptable, neutral and participatory polls in a festive and peaceful environment.   According to EC information, 1,970 candidates contested the 299 parliamentary seats in this national election. Among the 44 political parties registered with the EC, 1,534 candidates from 28 parties participated, and 436 individuals ran as independent candidates.   Ninety women contested the polls as candidates from political parties and independents, while 79 individuals from minority groups and others were in the race.

CEC made the statement in a speech addressing the nation on Saturday evening (Jan 6). Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday called upon the voters to exercise their voting rights freely braving all fears and concerns.  “I urge all voters to cast your valuable votes to your favorite candidate freely and fearlessly tomorrow,” the CEC said in a televised address to the nation this evening. “Cast your vote with enthusiasm and festivity to discharge your civic responsibility in forming the next parliamentary government,” he said. “Vote is yours. Don’t be influenced by anyone’s persuasion or intervention. If you face any kind of obstacle, immediately inform the presiding officer,” he added. The CEC asked the presiding officers to discharge their responsibility to ensure voters’ right by any means. Police and magistrates will stay in all polling centres to extent all-out cooperation to the presiding officers, he said.   All modes of transports will ply except motorcycle, microbus, taxicab and truck to facilitate the voters to reach the polling centers, the CEC said. CEC said that vote rigging, ballot snatching, money transactions, and possible use of muscle power in favour of any candidate or candidates will be strictly resisted.  If evidence is found, their candidature will be cancelled immediately. If necessary, voting in the centre or constituency will be completely suspended. 

The cabinet today (Thursday) approved in principle the draft of the Drugs Act, 2022 intensifying the punishment for several anomalies and offenses to the maximum 10-year jail and Taka 10 lakh penalty. The approval was given at the regular cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The premier joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, while her cabinet colleagues were present at the meeting room of the Cabinet Division. Briefing the reporters after the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said the highest punishment of 10-year imprisonment, Taka 10 lakh penalty or both were kept in several sections of the draft law for the drug related anomalies and offenses. In the existing law, there is a maximum three-year jail and Taka two lakh fine for the irregularities. The offenses, for which the maximum punishment of 10-year jail and Taka 10 lakh fine were kept in the draft law, include producing or importing drugs without licenses; producing, importing, exporting, marketing, stocking, selling or showcasing drugs without registration; producing, selling, stocking or marketing adulterated drugs; as well as stealing and selling government's drugs. Besides, the meeting gave the final endorsement to the draft of the State Acquisition and Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2022 bringing a minor change in the existing law to reduce the pending cases. There is a provision for a tribunal in the law. At the district level, assistant judges or senior assistance judges can be given the authority to try the cases, while the district judges can act as the appeal authority until the formal tribunal is formed as per the draft law, said the cabinet secretary, adding that this minor amendment was brought. The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the National Industry Policy, 2022 with a view to accelerating the economic progress of Bangladesh through industrialization with the balanced use of local raw materials and resources alongside cashing the facilities of the 4th industrial revolution. In addition, the meeting cleared the proposal for ratification of two agreements to be signed with Saudi Arabia and Serbia. The deeds are the agreement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, while the agreement between Bangladesh and Serbia over visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders. Source: BSS AH

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said, it is hard to give guarantee so that no irregularity will take place in election. But environment for holding national election is prevailing in the country. He said these to the newsmen at the Election Training Institute on Tuesday. The CEC said, some irregularities take place in major public election. We used to take action against those. Large scale irregularities took place in Barishal and we took more actions there. He said, national election schedule will be declared in later part of October. Election will be held in later part of December or beginning of January. There is environment for holding national election. In this regard no problem will arise, so far we think. How the irregularities should be controlled, we will do that accordingly. Nurul Huda said, as part of preparation for the national election the work for voter list finalization and boundary fixation were completed by this time. The works for scrutinizing centers are going on. About irregularities in City Corporation elections the CEC said, irregularities usually take place in this type of election. Where major irregularities took place, we took action there. AH

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, perpetrators have to receive strict punishment if any misdoing comes out following investigation regarding the gold deposited in Bangladesh Bank (BB) vault. He said this to the newsmen on Thursday after inspecting the mass reception site scheduled to be offered to the Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. Obaidul Quader said, the rhetoric regarding the gold kept in Bangladesh Bank vault does not suit to the BNP leaders because they are self convicted corrupt persons. After abolishing section 7 from their party constitution the issue does not suit to their mouth. It does not suit to them to term others corrupted. He said, fair trial will take place if there is any irregularity and the perpetrators have to receive strict punishment. The minister said, counter rhetoric in city corporation elections is the beauty of democracy. Speaking in democratic language is the beauty of democracy. But our political opponent BNP is telling that there is no democracy in the country. They are delivering speech in undemocratic language. He said, BNP repeatedly is attacking Sheikh Hasina and her government with undemocratic language. Does democratic language suit to those who speak in undemocratic language? AH