The Election Commission (EC) has updated the voter list where the total number of voters in the country currently stands at 12,17,75,450. Of them, 6,20,90,137 are male voters while 5,96,84,389 are female and 924 members of the third gender community.   EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath on Sunday unveiled the draft of the voter list at a press conference at the Media Centre of Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon.   Ashok said, "The final voter list will be published on March."   He told the number of the voters has been increased by 20,86,161 after the 12th national parliamentary election.  Among them, 13,20,396 are male voters while 7,65,690 are female and 75 members of the third gender community.   He also said, the number of voters throughout the country before the election was 11,96,89,289. Of them, 6,07,69,741 are male voters while 5,89,18,699 are female and 849 members of the third gender community. Director General of National Identity Card (NID) Registration Division AKM Humayun Kabir was present, among others, during the press conference.

The US president has warned of increased political violence as certain Republicans continue to sow doubt about the integrity of American elections. US President Joe Biden called on Americans to unite against "political violence and voter intimidation" in his midterm speech on Wednesday. His remarks about defending electoral integrity come a week out from midterm elections. "As I stand here today, there are candidates running for every level of office in America, for governor, for Congress, for attorney general, for secretary of state, who won't commit to accepting the results of the elections they're in," he said. "That is the path to chaos in America. It's unprecedented. It's unlawful. And, it is un-American." Most midterm election forecasts have tipped the Republicans to take control of the House, while the Senate will likely be a toss-up between the two parties. Biden laments political violence after Pelosi attack Biden's speech comes a week after an intruder broke into the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an apparent attempt to hold her hostage. Upon realizing the senior Democrat herself was out of town, the intruder attacked her husband, Paul. "The assailant entered the home asking, 'Where's Nancy? Where's Nancy?' Those were the very same words used by the mob when they stormed the US Capitol on January 6," Biden said. The president said the rhetoric of Republicans who deny the results of the 2020 presidential election and make baseless accusations of voter fraud served only to embolden violence against voters and officials. "There's an alarming rise in the number of people in this country condoning political violence or simply remaining silent," Biden added. "The silence is complicity." Biden also said it was possible that a full vote count could take time after the midterms, as it did in November 2020, when complete results took five days to collate. He said Americans were voting early, by mail, and by absentee ballot and that it would take time to tally them "in a legal and orderly manner."  "It is important for citizens to be patient," he said. 

The Election Commission (EC) has published the draft list for the registered voters of 2019-2020. In the draft list the number of total voters in the country is 11 crore 12 lakh 84 thousand 158 including 14 lakh 65 thousand 46 new voters. EC Senior Secretary Md. Alamgir delivered the information to the newsmen at the Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital on Sunday. Md. Alamgir said, during the updating process for 2019-2020 fresh 14 lakh 65 thousand 46 voters were registered. Of them the number of male voter is 9 lakh 1 thousand 983, female voter 5 lakh 63 thousand 46 and 15 have applied as transgender voters. He said that in case of necessary correction application should be made within January 31. According to the list of EC there are 11 crore 12 lakh 84 thousand 158 voters till Sunday. Of them 5 crore 63 lakh 84 thousand 513 are male voters, 5 crore 48 lakh 99 thousand 270 are female voters and 375 are transgender voters. The secretary also said that dead voters were not excluded in the list. The final list that is going to be published in March 2 will consist information about the dead voters. AH   

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said, there is no example that any political party had confidence over Election Commission (EC) in the country. So, the ruling party’s speech will be one type. On the other hand, opposition party’s speech will be another. It has become the political culture in this country. He said these while visiting the election materials including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) distribution activities at Residential Model School and College in the capital on Friday. The CEC said, EC is trying to hold a fair, free and neutral election. We did not arrange any partisan election and will not do that. Political party’s confidence and non-confidence over EC depends on their mentality. He said, adequate law enforcement agency members are on field on the occasion of city election, there will be no problem over the security measures. I do not believe that voters are feeling insecure. KM Nurul Huda said, adequate training was offered to the presiding officers and other concerned over EVM. They will cooperate from their level. I urge that the voters will exercise their voting rights by casting their votes using the EVMs. AH    

Bangladesh has got 53.66 lakh new voters after its 2018 general election, according to the draft updated electoral rolls revealed by the Election Commission on Monday. The number of voters will stand at 10,96,06,187 (nearly 11 crore), including 5,53,25,292 men, 5,42,80,542 women and 353 transgender, once the updated voter list is finalized. EC Additional Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman revealed the draft electoral rolls at a press conference at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing Brig Gen Saidul Islam was present. A total of 67,58,341 fresh voters -- 35,82,163 men and 31,75,825 women -- have been enrolled in the draft list, while 13,92,236 voters who died by the time have been deleted from the list. Meanwhile, the Commission has identified 2,07,635 dual voters and removed them from the list during the updating program. The Election Commission for the first time disclosed the number of transgender voters collecting their data with their own identities during the updating exercise. Source: UNB AH

Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said, the work to make Bangladeshi expatriates as voters will begin from next April. In this regard at first as a pilot project the expatriates living in Singapore will be made voters. Then the activities to make expatriates in Dubai as voters will be done. He said these to the newsmen at the EC Secretariat at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital on Thursday. The EC Secretary said, a team will go to Singapore within 5 to 7 days to make the expatriates as voters. Later the activities in Dubai will begin for the expatriates. He said, the fifth upazila council election will begin from first week of March and will be completed by phases. Helal Uddin Ahmed said, the schedule for reserved women seats in the Jatiya Sangsad will be declared in next week. Of the 50 reserved seats, according to the gained seats in the eleventh national parliament election Bangladesh Awami League will get 43 seats, Jatiya Party 4, Oikyafront 1, Independent and other party will get 2 seats. The suspended election of Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Palashbari) constituency will be held on January 27, he added. AH     

The electioneering for the 11th parliamentary polls scheduled for December 30 ended at 8am on Friday. The Awami League-led Grand Alliance ran the polls campaign with festive mood while electioneering with festivity was reportedly thin for the BNP-led opposition alliance - Jatiya Oikyafront. The campaign for eleventh parliamentary election began on December 10. In this year's election, the two main parties – Bangladesh Awami League under the banner of Grand Alliance led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront led by Dr Kamal Hossain - are contesting the national polls. Apart from the two major alliances, the CPB-led Left Democratic Alliance and the Islamic parties are also participating in the election. For the first time, electronic voting machine (EVM) is being used in six seats in the national polls. In the 11th parliamentary election, the candidates of all the parties chose the social media as a big tool for running campaign and it was the new dimension of electioneering. The polling will be held from 8am to 4pm without any break on Sunday (December 30). According to the Section 78 of the Representation of People Order (RPO), 1972, all sorts of campaign, including meeting, rally, procession, have been banned for 48 hours before the start of the polling and 48 hours after the end of the polling. Moreover, the ban will be applicable for the movements of cab, baby-taxi/CNG, microbuse, car, jeep, pickup, bus, truck, tempo, launch, easy bike, engine-run boats and speedboats from 12 am to midnight on voting day. A total of 39 political parties registered with the Election Commission are contesting the national polls. Some 1,847 candidates, including independent candidates, are vying for the 300 parliamentary seats. MHK  

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Awami League wants to win the upcoming eleven parliamentary election unilaterally. He made the remarks at an election rally in Thakurgaon around 11am on Sunday. Mirza Fakhrul said, “Awami League wants a unilateral election. But we will not let them happen it as now the people are in the field of election.” The BNP leader urged voters to go polling centres to cast their votes for paddy sheaf. "I request you to bring the change. BNP will work for you as it has worked for you in the past and it will continue work in future. MHK

The ‘#Iambangladesh platform’ has begun its march keeping ahead the eleventh national parliament election. The platform was formally inaugurated in a program held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the capital on Monday. The platform was inaugurated with joint initiatives of FBCCI, BGMEA, DCCI, MCCI and social service organization Aparajeyo Bangla. In the program representatives of different areas of Dhaka, university teachers, students, lawyers, journalists and voters raised questions regarding the next election. Somebody expressed their opinions about their candidates. FBCCI president Shafiul Islam Mahiuddin, MCCI president Nihad Kabir, former DCCI president Abul Kashem, former BGMEA president Atiqul Islam, film actor Ferdous, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and others delivered speeches in the program. Shakib Al Hasan said, there always will be for and against. But after the day it will be seen that people do the right thing using their sense and thinking. You need not to be skilled for all the matters. The best should be given from the position of each individual. Young people will not only run for jobs. They will do something so that they can provide jobs for thousands of people. Film actor Ferdous said, as the young people are seen queuing for miles to join music festival, like that the young voters have to go to the vote centers on the voting day. Your each vote is precious. It is important for independence of the country. After giving your votes into the right place you will be able to know what type of Bangladesh you want to see. Atiqul Islam said, we want such Bangladesh that voting will be casted but nobody will witness the outcry. Everything will be held in a normal way. We are for peace. Young people have to come forward to advance the development. AH       

Senior joint secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, the Election Commission (EC) cheated with voters in Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election. His allegation came in at the second phase press conference at BNP central office at Nayapaltan in the capital on Tuesday. Rizvi said, EC betrayed with people being the key channel to implement the blue print of this illegal government. As a result the terrorists sealed for ‘boat’ by occupying the vote centers in presence of the law enforcing agency members. And agents for ‘sheaf of paddy’ were forced out from the centers. He said, BNP nominated polling agents were forced out from nearly two hundred centers. False votes are being given and ruling party men are giving seals on the ballot papers by occupying the centers. Police were helping the Awami League cadres in these activities. Rizvi also said, collision began between police and voters of BNP during attempt to occupy the vote center under 42 number ward. Police opened baton charge and fire. 18 to 20 people were seriously injured and bullet injured Zakir Hossain was admitted in hospital under critical condition. Awami League terrorists opened fire on a councilor candidate named Hannan Mia Hannu in presence of police. Besides, arrest of BNP leaders and workers was going on. AH