News from Bangladesh-Updates and Discussion

[Al-zakir]

None of the states in NE wants freedom from India,they want more autonomy and that is being worked out.ULFA has lost it's traditional base in Assam,we have solved Mizoram way back in '86,Manipur & Nagaland have some problems but they always participate in the elections and have elected representatives in the Parliament.

I happy that you are happy for them not being wanting independend from india. Look frankly I don't really care what happening in india and what these guys want from Delhi. I am more interested saving our sovereignty and existing peace in side bd. Why BD should piss this guys off by giving corridor to India........

 

[TopCat]

What do you people think about this visit by Mr.Pranab??

It just shows, how important it is for India to have a good and prospective relationship with Bangladesh..

I like Pranab and Pinak gangue... May be beause they are Bengali...

 

[BanglaBhoot]

It just shows, how important it is for India to have a good and prospective relationship with Bangladesh..

I like Pranab and Pinak gangue... May be beause they are Bengali...

West Bengalis ......

They are Indians first and Bengalis second. Why do we always forget that. They never do.

 

[TopCat]

Businessmen want weekly holiday Sunday

The business leaders of the country today requested the finance minister AMA Muhith to make Sunday weekly holiday.

The request was made when a delegation of business leaders-led by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq met with the finance minister at his secretariat.

The businessmen also demanded reduction of banks' interest rate to favour the business community.

"There is no bar to making Sunday the weekly holiday," Annisul Huq told the minister adding that we (businessmen) stay out of touch with the global market for over three days a week because of the weekly holiday on Friday.

The minister did not give the businessmen any assurance. He rather asked them to garner public support for weekly holiday on Sunday.

The Daily Star - Details News

We dont have anything going on, on Sunday.. Why do we need sunday as holiday, only because they can read their business email on Friday????
Those who does business with BD know very well that we have Friday closed.. they wait for Monday.. So do we as we know them closed on Sunday...

 

[Al-zakir]

It just shows, how important it is for India to have a good and prospective relationship with Bangladesh..

I like Pranab and Pinak gangue... May be beause they are Bengali...

Extra love for Indian hindu Bangali. I see you are having hard time to diffrenciate between Bangladeshi and Bangali. Keep it up......

 

[TopCat]

West Bengalis ......

They are Indians first and Bengalis second. Why do we always forget that. They never do.

Yes we are same as Bangladeshi first Bengali second..
still common demonator for both of them "Bengali" remained there...

 

[Al-zakir]

West Bengalis ......

They are Indians first and Bengalis second. Why do we always forget that. They never do.

Brother we are wasting energy on some one who won't want to understand evanthough he understood the difrence......We are philosophically diffrent rather than Religion......

 

[leonblack08]

Rigging mars upazila polls

The long awaited election to upazila parishads was largely marked by unwarranted influence of ruling party lawmakers, local leaders, and widespread irregularities making the Election Commission (EC) extremely disappointed.

Despite taking heavy security measures to ensure a peaceful atmosphere, the turnout of voter was surprisingly low in the crucial local government bodies’ election, which also worried the EC and prompted it to open inquiry to find out the reasons behind the poor turnout.

“I think, it is very harmful to introduction and continuation of the process for holding free and fair elections,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said after the polling is completed in the afternoon.

A more disappointing view of the polling scenery was given by an election commissioner, who visited a number of polling stations today.

“Wherever violence, capturing polling stations and marking seal on ballot papers took place were done by the Awami League’s men,” said election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain at his office.

He observed that the MPs got into the field in a bid to keep the upazila parishads under their clutches.

Amid influence by ruling party minister and MPs and sporadic violence the EC suspended election in five upazilas and ordered taking actions against at least two ministers and a lawmaker for their direct interference in the polling.

The election once again proved that polls under political government are always influenced and the negative culture of politics still prevails despite the ruling party came to power placing ‘charter of changes’ before the nation in just last month.

The CEC, who succeeded to hold a widely appreciated parliamentary election just three weeks ago, is however determined to change the culture to the malpractices in the elections even if held under the political government.

“We will have to think to change the culture without letting it be spread. If necessary, we will sit with the government and other political parties,” CEC Huda said.

Referring to influences on previous polls held under the political governments, the CEC said they thought changes to some extent are already in place.

“But we did not expect those who are in power will misuse their offices and influence on administration,” an apparently desolated poll chief said, in an oblique reference to the lawmakers who were campaigning for the candidates backed by them.

The EC successfully held elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities in August last year during the caretaker government regime and the voter turnout was healthy.

The December 29 parliamentary election also recorded highest ever voter turnout of 87 percent for usage the flawless voter list and ensuring peaceful atmosphere.

The EC had expected a high voter turnout in the much anticipated upazila parishads election.

On low voter turnout, the CEC said they are still in quandary whether the voters have no interest in upazila parishads or they were intimidated.

“We expected people would reflect their desire in the election which is desirable in a democratic polity. We have also taken all out preparations to ensure voters’ participation in the election. But it did not take place and that is why my mind is filled with dissatisfaction,” Huda said.

He said they would open investigation to find out the reasons behind the low turn out despite no incidents of violence took place.

In response to a query, Election Commissioner Sakhawat said the government will look into whether the election will be acceptable despite such a low turn out of voter.

He however expected that the voter turnout might be around 50 percent, which was also recorded in the previous upazila parishads election.

“Yes, I can at best term the election fair, but can not term it free. It does not seem the voters could not visit polling stations freely,” Sakhawat said, replying to a query.

Asked why the election was not free, the election commissioner said because the political government has a stake in the polls.

Replying to another question about who is responsible for the failure, he said the EC had no negligence in taking poll preparations and the environment was ‘first class’.

About the political parties’ influence in the polls, the election commissioner said since it could not be held non-partisan manner, it should be made totally partisan basis like the parliamentary election. He said some incident of violence took places for the influenced by the party.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[leonblack08]

 

[TopCat]

Why is he PAID for??? Is he too afraid of taking any action now????? Shame on him....

 

[Al-zakir]

Rigging mars upazila polls

The long awaited election to upazila parishads was largely marked by unwarranted influence of ruling party lawmakers, local leaders, and widespread irregularities making the Election Commission (EC) extremely disappointed.

Despite taking heavy security measures to ensure a peaceful atmosphere, the turnout of voter was surprisingly low in the crucial local government bodies’ election, which also worried the EC and prompted it to open inquiry to find out the reasons behind the poor turnout.

“I think, it is very harmful to introduction and continuation of the process for holding free and fair elections,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said after the polling is completed in the afternoon.

A more disappointing view of the polling scenery was given by an election commissioner, who visited a number of polling stations today.

“Wherever violence, capturing polling stations and marking seal on ballot papers took place were done by the Awami League’s men,” said election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain at his office.

He observed that the MPs got into the field in a bid to keep the upazila parishads under their clutches.

Amid influence by ruling party minister and MPs and sporadic violence the EC suspended election in five upazilas and ordered taking actions against at least two ministers and a lawmaker for their direct interference in the polling.

The election once again proved that polls under political government are always influenced and the negative culture of politics still prevails despite the ruling party came to power placing ‘charter of changes’ before the nation in just last month.

The CEC, who succeeded to hold a widely appreciated parliamentary election just three weeks ago, is however determined to change the culture to the malpractices in the elections even if held under the political government.

“We will have to think to change the culture without letting it be spread. If necessary, we will sit with the government and other political parties,” CEC Huda said.

Referring to influences on previous polls held under the political governments, the CEC said they thought changes to some extent are already in place.

“But we did not expect those who are in power will misuse their offices and influence on administration,” an apparently desolated poll chief said, in an oblique reference to the lawmakers who were campaigning for the candidates backed by them.

The EC successfully held elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities in August last year during the caretaker government regime and the voter turnout was healthy.

The December 29 parliamentary election also recorded highest ever voter turnout of 87 percent for usage the flawless voter list and ensuring peaceful atmosphere.

The EC had expected a high voter turnout in the much anticipated upazila parishads election.

On low voter turnout, the CEC said they are still in quandary whether the voters have no interest in upazila parishads or they were intimidated.

“We expected people would reflect their desire in the election which is desirable in a democratic polity. We have also taken all out preparations to ensure voters’ participation in the election. But it did not take place and that is why my mind is filled with dissatisfaction,” Huda said.

He said they would open investigation to find out the reasons behind the low turn out despite no incidents of violence took place.

In response to a query, Election Commissioner Sakhawat said the government will look into whether the election will be acceptable despite such a low turn out of voter.

He however expected that the voter turnout might be around 50 percent, which was also recorded in the previous upazila parishads election.

“Yes, I can at best term the election fair, but can not term it free. It does not seem the voters could not visit polling stations freely,” Sakhawat said, replying to a query.

Asked why the election was not free, the election commissioner said because the political government has a stake in the polls.

Replying to another question about who is responsible for the failure, he said the EC had no negligence in taking poll preparations and the environment was ‘first class’.

About the political parties’ influence in the polls, the election commissioner said since it could not be held non-partisan manner, it should be made totally partisan basis like the parliamentary election. He said some incident of violence took places for the influenced by the party.

The Daily Star - Details News

Awami acting like Awami. This was expected and no one should be sruprise or shock by all these. It's fascist party with full of criminal and hoodlums. As I said before people of BD dug their own grave by bringing a dalal parti to power. May Allah put some sense to those who voted or suppor for Awami ..........

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Upazila polls influenced

EC slams ruling party for misusing offices, controlling administration; tells of violence, ballot-stuffing, seizing polling stations by AL men; decides to probe low turnout reason

Low turnout, ministers and ruling party lawmakers meddling in balloting, and irregularities in places marked the long-awaited upazila elections yesterday, meaning a letdown for the Election Commission (EC).

Despite a relatively peaceful atmosphere, people did not come out in droves to vote like they did in the recently held national election.

Concerned, the EC has decided to open an enquiry to find out the reasons.

Referring to poor turnout, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said, “It will leave harmful effects on the efforts to ensure free and fair elections in the country.”

He was talking to reporters at his office yesterday afternoon.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain sounded quite riled up.

He said violence, seizure of polling stations and ballot-stuffing were done by Awami League men.

Sakhawat, who had earlier visited some polling centres, observed that lawmakers interfered to secure win for their favoured candidates as they want to keep upazila parishads under their sway.

The EC has suspended elections in five upazilas and over 50 polling stations in response to violence and ruling party MPs exerting influence on the election process.

It also ordered that legal actions be taken against at least a minister and a lawmaker for interference in the polls.

The polls chief however appeared undaunted by the setback.

Referring to electoral malpractices under political governments, he said, “We must not let it continue. If necessary, we'll sit with the government and political parties and discuss how to put an end to it.”

Mentioning widespread abuse of power in local body polls in the past, he said they thought some changes were taking place.

“We didn't expect those in power to misuse their office and influence the administration,” Huda said in reference to the lawmakers who had canvassed for their party-backed candidates.

The December 29 parliamentary election, which was praised at home and abroad for its fairness, saw a record 87 percent turnout.

In August last year, elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities under the caretaker government too had a healthy attendance.

The free and fair conduct of those polls is widely credited to a flawless voter list and peaceful atmosphere.

With two successful elections under its belt, the EC had expected a high turnout in the upazila elections as well.

But the way things turned out yesterday seems to have confirmed its fears about the credibility of polls under a political government.

Originally, the commission scheduled the local polls to precede the parliamentary election as it sought to avert the polls being influenced by the ruling party or alliance.

It however had to give in to mounting pressure from the major political parties including AL and BNP, and rescheduled the elections for January 22.

Queried what possibly led to low turnout, the CEC said they are not sure if it was a lack of interest among the voters or intimidation.

“We expected people would show up in large numbers to register their will. This is something always desired in a democratic polity.

“We took all-out preparations to ensure their participation in the elections. But that didn't happen and that's why I'm disappointed,” said Huda.

He said they would look into the reasons why the turnout was low despite no major reports of violence.

“That the elections have taken place after 18 years is however a turning point,” he added.

Election Commissioner Sakhawat said it rests with the government to see whether the elections are acceptable with such a low voter attendance.

He however said the voter turnout might be around 50 percent, which was more or less the case in the previous upazila polls.

“I can at best term today's elections fair, but cannot say they were free. Voters didn't seem to be free to be at the polling stations,” Sakhawat continued.

Asked why he thinks the elections were not free, he said it was because the “government had a stake”.

He said there was no negligence on part of the EC, and the environment too was 'first-class'.

About the local body polls being prone to political influence, the election commissioner said since they could not be held in a non-partisan manner, they should be made partisan like the parliamentary election.

Asked if he is satisfied, Sakhawat said, “Personally, I'm not happy at all.”

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Minister, AL MP may face jail term

EC initiates legal action for influencing polls

The Election Commission (EC) has initiated steps to take legal actions against a cabinet minister and a ruling party lawmaker for allegedly influencing yesterday's upazila parishad election.

Ignoring the electoral rules, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas and Awami League lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi interfered in the polls in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar.

As per the electoral rules, they may be imprisoned for a term of two to seven years and fined if they are found guilty of the offences, which are considered criminal offences.

In the run-up to the upazila parishad elections, the EC had written to the Cabinet Division requesting all ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and persons enjoying similar status not to participate in electioneering by visiting upazilas scheduled for the polls.

"But a minister was found at a polling station today. There was no need for him to visit that place but he stayed there and created problems in polling. As a result, we were compelled to suspend polling," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said, referring to Latif Biswas' interference in Belkuchi upazila.

Referring to Bodi, Huda said another lawmaker beat up polling officials.

"Judicial magistrates have already been asked to take legal actions against the two," the CEC said.

"We are waiting for detail investigation reports, receiving which we will take action," he said.

The CEC said usually problems arise centring officials involved in holding election but there was no such problem. "Since polling officials did not pay heed to anyone's dictates, they were intimidated and influenced," the CEC said.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain also said Post and Telecommunications Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu visited his electoral area.

Local sources said the minister's presence at Raipura upazila of Narsingdi gave advantage to the candidate his party is backing.

Our correspondent in Sirajganj reports: Minister Latif Biswas went to Sirajganj on Wednesday night and stayed at his residence in Kamarpara village in Belkuchi upazila. He attended a meeting at the Belkuchi AL office that night.

Latif visited Meghulla Madrasa polling centre and Kamarpara Primary School centre yesterday morning.

He left Belkuchi at 1:30pm after hearing the news of postponement of the elections at the upazila.

When contacted, Returning Officer Abdul Qayyum said, "We postponed the elections on orders of the Election Commission and we did not get any complaint against the minister."

Abdul Latif Biswas could not be contacted over mobile phone for his comments.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Ghosts of past return

Ruling party interference, clash, voter intimidation, ballot box hijack mar upazila polls

More than 100 people including policemen were injured across the country during clashes among supporters of rival candidates of upazila polls yesterday.

Clashes, ruling party activists influencing polling, snatching of ballot boxes and ballot papers, preventing voters from going to the polling centres, forcing voters to vote openly and a low turnout scarred the long awaited upazila parishad election day, according to our correspondents.

Executive judicial magistrates across the country in instant judgments sentenced at least nine people to different terms of imprisonment for violating electoral and other laws. More than 30 people were arrested for their involvement in criminal activities related to the election.

Elections to five upazilas parishads were postponed following allegations of intimidation, deterioration of law and order situation, irregularities and preventing people to cast their votes.

Following allegations of vote rigging, locals torched ballot boxes and sacks full of ballot papers in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur last evening.

Twenty people were hurt during clashes between supporters of rival candidates of Ukhia upazila in Cox's Bazar. Officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station filed a case accusing 500 unknown people.

In Teknaf upazila Awami League (AL) lawmaker Abdur Rahman allegedly assaulted three election officials, presiding officer and two assistant presiding officers, in two polling centres.

An allegation was raised against Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas for working in favour of Awami League (AL) adherent candidate in Belkuchi upazila and AL supporters allegedly forced voters to cast their votes openly and tried to capture polling centres. The AL supporters also vandalised a vehicle of the United Nations.

Chairman candidate of Faridpur Sadar upazila Imran Hossain Chowdhury, 63, a Jatiya Party leader and former upazila parishad chairman, died of heart attack yesterday.

An executive judicial magistrate in an instant judgment sentenced a Jamaat supporter to two years' rigorous imprisonment for casting fake votes for Jamaat adherent candidate Maulana Tamij Uddin Ahmed at Islampur Govt Primary School polling centre in Khulna.

In Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj, police arrested an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers when they were casting votes for AL adherent chairman candidate Shah Jalal. The arrestees are assistant presiding officer Azufa Akter and poling officers Iqbal Hossain and Abdul Mannan. Police recovered 90 ballot papers from their possession.

Locals chased two AL activists--Sayeed and Mamun--as they were trying to get away with ballot boxes. They managed to flee leaving the ballot boxes behind. The AL men attacked a polling centre and left Assistant Presiding Officer Harunur Rashid injured.

Reports of ballot box hijacking and assaulting assistant presiding officers also came from Munshiganj.

Three people including an assistant presiding officer were arrested at Enaetpur Govt Primary School centre in Naogaon's Raninagar upazila in connection with violating the electoral code of conduct and threatening the presiding officer. One of the two arrestees is polling agent of BNP adherent chairman candidate SM Al Faruk James.

Eight followers of AL lawmaker Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara in Puthia, Rajshahi, were arrested for taking over three polling booths in Hatinada Non-Government Primary School polling centre.

A chairman and three vice-chairmen candidates in Noakhali said they have "withdrawn" from the race alleging beating up of their polling agents. They are four-party-backed Companiganj chairman candidate Fakhrul Islam, vice-chairman candidate Jahir Uddin and female vice-chairman candidate Taslima Toha Lipi.

Voting was suspended in two polling centres following snatching of ballot papers in Noakhali. At least 50 people were injured in clashes between the supporters of rival candidates in different polling centres there.

Police arrested eight people in connection with intimidating voters and other criminal activities around polling centres in the district.

At least 20 people were injured in Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila when supporters of two pro-AL chairman candidates and two pro-AL vice-chairman candidates clashed with each other in two separate incidents. Police arrested 10 people at Daulatpur and Kumarkhali while they were casting votes openly for AL adherent chairman candidates.

In Bogra, Presiding Officer Rajat Kumar Das and Assistant Presiding Officer Harun-or-Rashid of Nishindara Fakir Uddin School and College polling centre were suspended for working in favour of AL adherent chairman candidate in the Sadar upazila. Presiding Officer Zulfikar Ali and Assistant Presiding Officer Golam Hossain of Manikchar Primary School polling centre were also suspended for working in favour of Jamaat adherent candidate Bazlur Rahman.

Two polling agents and two law enforcers were injured in a clash between supporters of two pro-AL candidates in Bera upazila of Pabna.

Supporters of chairman candidate Azizul Huq Arju vandalised the car of rival candidate Afzal Hossain. They also attacked police leaving Bera police chief and a sub-inspector injured. Army and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel later arrested two polling agents of Azizul Huq.

A mobile court yesterday sentenced five supporters of AL-backed chairman candidate Shahin Ahmed of Keraniganj upazila to three years' imprisonment for trying to take away 29 ballot papers at New Baker Char Primary School polling centre, UNB reports. They were also fined Tk 4,000 each.

Nilphamari municipality panel Chairman Shamsul Islam was arrested for violating the electoral rules.

At least seven people were injured when supporters of two chairman candidates locked in clashes in Hanirpur--West Chargazipur and Nauri polling centres of Matlab (north) upazila under Chandpur district. Voting was suspended at a polling centre in Faridganj after criminals cast 200 fake votes.

In Barisal, police fired six bullets when supporters of an AL adherent candidate were trying to take over Pashchim Ratanpur Government Primary School polling centre in Mehendiganj.

A polling agent of candidate Monirul Islam Chhobi was suspended from the Kornokathi Gauche Rahmania High School polling centre in Barisal for trying to get voters to cast their votes for his candidate, Presiding Officer Mosharaf Hossain said.

Polling at three centres of Nandail upazila in Mymensingh district was postponed following incidents of ballot box snatching.

Five ballot boxes were snatched, two each from Sherpur Uttar Govt Primary School and Ahmedabad Govt Primary School polling centres and one from Imam Hossain High School centre, said Assistant Returning Officer, also upazila nirbahi officer of Nandail, Hawlader Rakibul Bari.

Police arrested Abdul Mannan alias Mannaf in connection with the snatching. The boxes could not be recovered as of filing of this report at 10:00pm.

An executive judicial magistrate sentenced a man to six months imprisonment for influencing voters in Gaibandha.

Police arrested Sardar Murshid for voting in an open area at Rampal upazila in Bagerhat. When asked, Murshid told reporters that he was forced to cast his vote openly by one of the candidates in the race.

UNB reports: One person was arrested in possession of a firearm and voting at a polling centre was suspended in Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj.

BNP adherent chairman candidate of Pangsha upazila in Rajbari Ashraful Islam Miah alleged that supporters of his rival AL adherent candidate Hasan Ali Biswas captured around 40 polling centres in eight unions. He demanded postponement of the polls in that upazila.

Police also held a person with Tk 35,000 in connection with trying to buy votes in Khayerpur union under Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur.

An executive judicial magistrate sentenced two people to six months' imprisonment in Patuakhali for threatening voters at a polling centre. The magistrate also fined them Tk 1,000 each.

Presiding officer of Pathan Tola Govt Primary School polling centre, in Sherpur upazila of Bogra, Amirul Islam was beaten up twice in the polling centre allegedly by Jamaat activists, Assistant Returning Officer Zakir Hossain said.

Ballot boxes and result sheets of three polling centres at Atpara upazila in Netrakona were looted by criminals around 10:00pm. The three centres are Tonda, Ransiddah and Baratali.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[BanglaBhoot]

I am really ashamed that Bangladesh has voted for these thugs, crooks and vote thieves. Now there is no doubt about the true agenda of the AL. They intend to dominate BD politics for the next decade by any means necessary.