Two thousands and fifty five aspirants have submitted nomination papers for contesting in the second phase of upazila polls. Election Commission additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath confirmed this information on Sunday (April 21). He said, 'Today was the last day to submit nomination papers in 160 upazila polls of the second phase. In the election, 730 aspirants filled nomination papers for the post of chairman, 763 for the post of Vice-chairman and 562 for the post of vice chairman reserved for women.'  According to the second phase schedule, nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 23, appeals will be accepted from April 24 to 26, and appeals will be disposed from April 27 to 29. Last date for withdrawal of candidature is 30 April. The allocation of symbol is on May 2. Voting will be held on May 21. 

Analysts say local elections this Sunday are crucial for Turkey's opposition parties, which are under threat of being utterly sidelined by an increasingly authoritarian regime. As millions of eligible voters headed to the polls to elect mayors in 81 Turkish cities and municipalities on March 31, it is a historic local election for one person in particular: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has spoken of his "last election" before handing over responsibility to the next generation. Turkey's constitution obliges Erdogan to step down in four years due to term limits. But an Erdogan loyalist in the Turkish parliament, former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag, has long teased a constitutional amendment that would allow the head of state to run for another term. And the president's ultranationalist ally Devlet Bahceli has publicly pleaded with Erdogan, telling him: "You cannot leave the Turkish nation alone!" Erdogan's AKP takes on Ekrem Imamoglu Erdogan's political career gained momentum when he was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994. But it was there, too, that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a major defeat in 2019 local elections. This year, it hopes to erase that embarrassment. A few weeks ago, Erdogan spoke of "five wasted years." In 2019, a united opposition achieved a historic victory after 25 years and succeeded in taking back 11 cities, including Istanbul and the Turkish capital, Ankara, from the AKP. Many factors were responsible for the defeat of the ruling party, but one man in particular stood out: Ekrem Imamoglu from the Republican People's Party (CHP), who was elected mayor of Istanbul. His reelection or defeat on March 31 could determine the future of Turkey. If Imamoglu wins, his chances of running for president in 2028 will significantly increase, predicted Berk Esen, a political scientist at Istanbul's Sabanci University. "In my opinion, Imamoglu is the best possible opposition candidate if Erdogan's power machine is to be beaten," he said. Esen said Imamoglu has the necessary qualities to rally a majority. "He can win the votes of very different population groups. He has the potential to reach conservative, left-wing, Kurdish and even pro-Erdogan voters," he said. Esen also pointed out that Imamoglu was positioning himself as a direct rival to the president on the campaign trail. "Imamoglu is using these elections to attack Erdogan directly," he said. In Istanbul, AKP may benefit from divided opposition But it won't be easy for the anti-AKP camp this Sunday. According to a survey by the Turkish ORC research institute, there are only 1.2 percentage points between Imamoglu and AKP candidate Murat Kurum in Istanbul. The job of Istanbul mayor is of paramount importance for the country as a whole: one-fifth of the Turkish population lives in the metropolitan Istanbul region, and half of Turkey's exports as well as 56% of its imports pass through the megacity. In the 2023 presidential election, the opposition put forward a joint candidate to face Erdogan but fell short. This time, the three biggest opposition parties — the CHP, the nationalist Good Party (IYI) and the pro-Kurdish DEM — are all presenting their own candidates.  Esen explained that the united opposition front fell apart after Erdogan's victory in the 2023 presidential election, leading to a loss of trust among voters. "In view of this fragmentation and internal struggles among the opposition parties, there is a sense of hopelessness and disenchantment with politics," he said. When Erdogan was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994, it was despite the fact that he had received only around 25% of the vote. His four opponents received 22, 20, 15 and 12%. Today, many fear his party's candidate for Istanbul, Kurum, could likewise benefit from such a divided opposition. Erdogan's opponents seem unmotivated, said Ulas Tol, director of the CORE Research Institute in Istanbul. "Until 2019, Erdogan's party ruled in the big cities and the opposition's ultimate goal was simply winning elections," he said. "Now, those who don't vote for Erdogan are either emotionally politicized to the extreme or turning away from politics altogether." Erdogan wants to 'get rid of potential 2028 rivals' These elections will show, "which direction the authoritarian system in Turkey could develop in the coming years," said political scientist Esen. "Erdogan wants to use these elections to weaken, or completely get rid of potential 2028 rivals," he said. "If he succeeds, the Turkish opposition will be even less able to compete than it is today. The situation is perhaps not comparable with Russia but with Venezuela: elections are held there regularly, but the opposition has no chance of winning. That's why this election is so important for the [Turkish] opposition."

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has reacted to the reports released by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) on the 12th parliamentary election. "It doesn't matter what NDI-IRI says regarding Bangladesh’s election as the national polls were free, fair and impartial," he told reporters after a programme at the  Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday (March 17). Hasan said NDI and IRI have admitted that there was less violence in the 12th parliamentary election compared to the previous elections.  However, IRI and NDI are non-partisan non-governmental organizations that support and strengthen democratic institutions and practices worldwide. These institutes have collectively monitored more than 200 elections in more than 50 countries over the past 30 years.

Over 100 million people were eligible to vote, but the country is still reeling from a deadly bomb blast in Balochistan on the eve of the election. DW has the latest.   More than 128 million voters were registered  Key issues included the economic crisis, security issues and the power of the military The projected front-runner is former Premier Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was barred from running At least 26 people were killed in a bomb blast in Balochistan on the eve of the election   Pakistan counts votes, electoral commission demands results Pakistan's vote count following their national election on Thursday was marred by delays, leading the Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday moring to order returning officers to speed up the release of results. By 3 a.m. local time (2200 GMT, Thursday), more than 10 hours after polls closed, only four provincial assembly results had been announced. The delay has been blamed on "internet problems" after the closure by authorities of internet and phone access during the day. The Interior Ministry said communications outages were "to maintain law and order" after two explosions on Wednesday by the "Islamic State" killed 28 people.  Polls predicted a low turnout from the country's 128 million eligible voters.   

The 12th national parliamentary polls were the freest, fairest and most credible in Bangladesh after 1975, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today (Feb 7). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said that the newly formed government's  journey will not be so easy. Various obstacles may come. But we have to move forward by facing those obstacles. She said this in an exchange meeting with the leaders and activists of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and its various affiliated organizations on Wednesday (Feb 7) at noon. The Prime Minister also said that the welfare of the people is the only goal of his government. Sheikh Hasina invited the leaders and activists of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and other affiliated organizations of the party to Ganobhaban after assuming office as the Prime Minister for the fourth time in a row. The open square of Ganabhavan became lively with the arrival of activists. By this time, the head of government greeted and exchanged views with the leaders and activists of his constituency. Highlighting various economic crises of the country in the global context, PM said that there is some dissatisfaction among the people due to the rise in commodity prices. The government is working to control commodity prices.

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.

A festive atmosphere is prevailing across Bangladesh centring on the voting of the 12th parliamentary election. The voting started at 8am on Sunday and will continue till 4pm.  Voters were seen queuing up to cast their ballots since morning. The number of voters increases as the day progresses.  During a visit to several polling stations in different districts, it was seen that voters including elderly people were gathering braving foggy weather.

Voting in the 12th national parliamentary election is underway on Sunday morning  (Jan 7) using ballot papers in 299 seats.  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. Election Commission (EC) source said, 11,96,89,289 voters, including 6,76,09,741 male, 5,89,18,699 female and 849 transgender, will vote to elect 299 members of parliament out of 300 as the EC earlier postponed the elections to Naogaon-2 due to independent candidate Aminul Islam’s death. 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. A required number of members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across the country to ensure the security of the voters so that they can go to polling centres, exercise franchise and return home safely.  

The Election Commission has started distributing election materials from the offices of returning officers across the country ahead of 12th national parliamentary election scheduled to be held on Sunday (Jan 7).  Ballot papers and other polling materials, including stamp pads, official seals and marking seals, have been sent to the offices of returning officers (ROs). Balloting will begin at 8am and continue till 4pm without break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres across the country. From those offices, polling materials have been distributed to election officials of respective polling stations. However, ballot papers will reach presiding officers early on Sunday (Jan 7).   

The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations to hold the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner in all but one constituency simultaneously across the country tomorrow ( Jan 7). EC officials said 11,96,89,289 voters, including 6,76,09,741 male, 5,89,18,699 female and 849 transgender, will vote to elect 299 members of parliament out of 300 as the EC earlier postponed the elections to Naogaon-2 due to independent candidate Aminul Islam's death. 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 balloting will begin at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres across the country. The ballot papers and other polling materials, including stamp pads, official seals, marking seals, are being sent to returning officers (ROs) offices. However, the EC, for the first time in the election history of the country, decided to send ballot papers to polling stations in the morning of voting day except 2,964 centres in the country's remote areas as ballots to these centres will be sent by today.  A required number of members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across the country to ensure the security of the voters so that they can go to polling centres, exercise franchise and return home safely. About 8 lakh members of law enforcement agencies, including 182,091 from police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 1,155 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, 505,788 Ansar and VDP members and Coast Guard personnel, have been tasked with ensuring overall security during the elections across the country. Members of the armed forces were deployed from Wednesday across the country to assist the local civil administration in holding the general election in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. Army personnel are performing their duties in 62 districts while Navy personnel have been deployed in two coastal districts- Bhola and Barguna- and 19 upazilas "In Aid to the Civil Power". Besides, members of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) are providing assistance to the voting centres in remote hilly areas in the country with helicopters. Members of law enforcement agencies and armed forces will remain deployed till January 10 to ensure peace, and control law and order before, after, and during voting day. In addition, BGB Dog Squads specially trained on explosive materials are working in different areas across the country to deal with any violent activities. Besides, the Fire Service and Civil Defence has formed a central monitoring and coordination cell to deal with any kind of incident including fire and violent activities during the JS elections across the country. A total of 8 lakh polling officials will remain engaged in polling activities while more 1 lakh will remain standby, he said, adding, in addition to that 3,000 executive and judicial magistrates will perform their duties in the fields across the country during the elections. A total of 66 returning officers (ROs), including two divisional commissioners and 64 deputy commissioners (DCs), are performing their responsibilities to conduct the polls.  Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will address the nation this evening over tomorrow's polls. His address to the nation will be aired on state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar at 7pm. The EC, however, ordered the authorities concerned to enhance security and surveillance at all polling stations across the country in a bid to hold the election in a free and fair manner.