02 Jan 2009

• Hasina seeks UN assistance for trial of war criminals : Cautions her activists about repression, harassment
• CEC urges all to respect people’s verdict : He leaves Khaleda’s allegations of stage-managed polls for people to judge, UZ polls as per schedule
• Overseas employment exceeds 8.75mln in 2008 : Nearly US $9bln received as remittance
• BNP’s participation in JS depends on AL attitude : So-called elected govt better than that of unelected - Delwar

01 Jan 2009

• Target food prices : Hasina discloses her priority list at first briefing after poll triumph; seeks Khaleda's help in running country; asks party loyals for forgiveness
• Foreign observers term elections fair, credible
• Popular Votes : AL 25pc up, BNP 20pc down
• Cabinet takes oath in first week of Jan : MPs within 3 days
• Mobile network in 3 hill dists to be expanded

31 Dec 2008

• AL, allies take 262 seats : 4-party manages 32
• AL victory is ‘victory of spirit of Liberation War’ - AL : Hasina postpones press briefing
• CG to relinquish power within 10 days
• Highest 64 women elected to 9th JS
• 28 grenades recovered : 2 JMB men held in Ctg

30 Dec 2008

• Bangladesh stunned by Awami victory
• Heavy turnout in peaceful voting : Common people appreciate general poll saying extraordinary
• 300 migrants feared dead off Andaman islands : Most of them Bangladeshis
• If fair polls held, BNP will win - Khaleda : She is displeased over law enforcers and administration role
• Hasina says after voting I’ll accept JS poll results : Confident on mega alliance’s win

29 Dec 2008

• Nation goes to polls today : Massive security measures for 9th JS elections
• Bangladesh Navy keep patrolling as Indian ships get back
• CA urges political parties : Accept poll results gracefully
• AL expects ‘absolute majority’ : Foreign observers hope polls will be free, fair
• 1000 mw electricity added by caretaker govt : Accord to build 50 mw Shikalbaha Power Plant

28 Dec 2008

• Khaleda apologises for mistakes, if any : Launches bitter attack on AL, but asks Hasina to work together for development
• Modern Bangladesh : Pledges Hasina at Ctg : deep sea port, hanging bridge on Karnaphuli if AL elected
• 2 lakh to observe JS polls : 500 foreign observers now in country
• UN appeal to parties - Demonstrate responsibility, honour people’s will

27 Dec 2008

• Stop exploration in Bay until the maritime boundary delimitation issue is resolved : Dhaka tells Delhi
• Hasina plays on people's expectation for a change : Pledges from highly-secured dais to contain food prices, graft, crime; winds up Dhaka campaign
• Poll finances of parties kept under wraps : EC effort for transparent election economy not making that impact
• EU mission deploys 100 poll observers
• Banned groups inactive in SW region

02 Jan 2009

Hasina seeks UN assistance for trial of war criminals : Cautions her activists about repression, harassment

The Bangladesh Today

Awami League President and the Premier-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina has sought cooperation of the United Nation for trial of war criminals in Bangladesh. Hasina asked for the legal assistance on Thursday while a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Ian Martin called on her.
The UN representative assured to provide all sorts of assistance to resolve the longstanding political issue which was also included in the AL Election Manifesto. The UN delegation also discussed with Hasina how the UN can extend its support to gear up the governing system of the country.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina asked her party leaders and activists to continue their political activities by shunning the politics of vengeance and work for the welfare of the country and its people.
"Remain clam, forgive their misdeeds and lead a disciplined life. Be careful about your work so that none can accuse you of resorting to repression and harassment to anyone," she directed her party leaders and activists, waiting in front of her Dhanmondi residence to greet her yesterday noon.
Wishing the huge crowed, mostly the newly elected MPs and district leaders, with a loud speaker from the rooftop of Sudha Sadan, the AL President said, "Happy New Year. Work unitedly to build up a 'Sonar Bangla' earlier dreamt of by the father of nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Muijibur Rahman ."

CEC urges all to respect people’s verdict : He leaves Khaleda’s allegations of stage-managed polls for people to judge, UZ polls as per schedule

The Bangladesh Today

Terming Monday's elections free, fair and credible, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda on Thursday called on all to show respect to people's verdict. He said the EC is satisfied with holding such an election that has been applauded by the world community.
CEC thanked the citizens who paved the way for restoring democracy in the country through casting their valuable votes. The commission would publish the gazettes of the parliamentary elections by Thursday.
He informed that the highest votes were cast in the Rajshahi-5 constituency with total of some 94.89 percentages while the lowest votes in Dhaka-11 with 72.48 percentages.
The CEC said the overall voter's turnout was approximately 86.29 percent in the Monday's parliamentary elections.
Referring to the election result, the CEC said, of the total votes cast, Bangladesh Awami League obtained 48.06 percent, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) scored 32.45 percent, Jatiya party got 7.05 percent and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami bagged 4.60 percent.
About the 'No-votes' he said a total of 3, 82, 437 votes were cast as no votes across the country which is 0.55 percentage of the total votes.
The CEC said the elections to all upazilla would be held as per schedule on January 22.
Asked how the EC looks at Khaleda Zia's allegation that the polls were stage-managed, Huda said allegation of such a senior political leader has been left to people's judgment.

Overseas employment exceeds 8.75mln in 2008 : Nearly US $9bln received as remittance

The Bangladesh Today

The number of Bangladeshis cleared for overseas employment in 2008 exceeded 8,75,000 creating a new record. A record amount of nearly 9 billion US dollar has also been received as remittances in 2008. Previous year (2007) witnessed the employment abroad of over 8,32,000 which was then a record too. Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, expressed his deep satisfaction at this.

BNP’s participation in JS depends on AL attitude : So-called elected govt better than that of unelected - Delwar

The Bangladesh Today

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Thursday said a so-called elected democratic government is better than an unelected government for the country's development and prosperity.
Khandaker Delwar along with hundreds of Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) leaders in a procession went to President Zia's grave to mark the 30th founding anniversary of the student wing of BNP. Delwar said after watching Awami League's activities, BNP will take decision about its next political steps and measures. He expressed his hope that the Awami League would run the country in association with countrymen.
Replying to query Khandaker Delwar said whether BNP would attend the parliament or not would depend on Awami League leaders' attitude on opposition.

01 Jan 2009

Target food prices : Hasina discloses her priority list at first briefing after poll triumph; seeks Khaleda's help in running country; asks party loyals for forgiveness

The Daily Star

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government's first tasks would be to bring down the prices of essentials within people's reach and alleviate poverty. And in this mission, she sought cooperation of her political archrival Khaleda Zia.
A smiling and confident Hasina sought cooperation of all, including the opposition and other political parties, in establishing a new political culture to build a developed, modern and poverty-free Bangladesh.
She urged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to accept the polls results. Hasina expressed her wish to share power, including cabinet positions, with the opposition. She offered the opposition posts of deputy speaker and chairmen of a few parliamentary standing committees.
Asking party men to stay calm and show tolerance, she urged all to work for the nation.

Foreign observers term elections fair, credible

The New Nation BD

The international election observers are unanimous in their view that the December 29 parliamentary election, which heralded Bangladesh's return to democracy after two years of military-backed rule, was fair and credible one. The voting was the most peaceful and spontaneous in decades observers said at different press conferences in the city yesterday and urged the opposition to accept the results.
Commonwealth Observer Group for Bangladesh parliamentary elections did not find any evidence to justify BNP's claim that the election was held under a "blueprint".

Popular Votes : AL 25pc up, BNP 20pc down

The Daily Star

A calculation of the votes cast in Monday's election showed that Awami League (AL) bagged about 25 percent more votes in this election than it had in 2001. It secured 40.13 percent of popular votes in 2001, which got jacked up to 49.02 percent this time around.
On the other hand, the number of popular votes cast for BNP in the just concluded 9th parliamentary election got reduced by 20 percent compared to its gain in 2001 election.
These numbers clearly indicate a swing from BNP to AL among voters, at least by 20 percent. A pre-poll survey conducted by The Daily Star and Nielsen showed that 37 percent of voters were likely to swing.
This election also set a new record in voter turnout, as 87 percent of registered voters voted compared to 2001 election's 75.59 percent.

Cabinet takes oath in first week of Jan : MPs within 3 days

The News Today

Prime Minister-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina this (Wednesday) evening hoped that her cabinet would take oath within the first week of January, beginning today. Sheikh Hasina, president of Awami League and leader of the Grand Alliance that swept Monday's parliament elections spelt out the timing of forming the government while talking to journalists after meeting President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.
Meanwhile, LGRD and cooperatives Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal said today (Wednesday) the newly ele-cted Parliament members would take oath within three days after publication of the gazette notification.

Mobile network in 3 hill dists to be expanded

The New Nation BD

Bangladesh Govt has decided to expand mobile network in three hill districts of Khagrachari, Bandarban and Rangamati. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Manzurul Alam said that the people of hill districts were deprived of mobile phone benefit though people of other parts of the country got the opportunity.

31 Dec 2008

AL, allies take 262 seats : 4-party manages 32

The Daily Star

The Awami League-led grand alliance has swept back to power after seven years out of office with a stunning landslide victory. The grand alliance has clinched two-thirds majority with 262 seats compared to its archrival BNP-led four-party alliance's 32, down from 217 in 2001.
Jamaat-e-Islami, the BNP's key ally in the four-party alliance, has seen its once-proud seat tally plummet from 17 in 2001 to a humiliating two, in what appears to be a wholesale rejection of the party by the voters.
The results clearly indicate that the voters, especially the young and first-time voters, were hungry for the change that the BNP-led alliance was simply incapable of delivering.

AL victory is ‘victory of spirit of Liberation War’ - AL : Hasina postpones press briefing

The Bangladesh Today

The post-election press conference of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Jatiya Press Club was abruptly postponed for unspecified reason.
Hasina was scheduled to give her party's reaction about Wednesday's election result. An AL source said Hasina's press conference was postponed due to security reason.
Earlier, the AL President passed busy hours yesterday. Newly elected Parliament Members, mainly of the capital, and party leaders greeted Sheikh Hasina at her Dhanmondi Sudha Sadan residence. Some of them also presented her flowers.
Hasina asked them to work for the people with utmost sincerity and to ensure accountability in their activities through upholding the image of the party.
She also directed the winning candidates not to bring out any procession or rallies in the street.
Meanwhile, some-winning candidates of AL-led grand alliance in different constituencies throughout the country hailed the poll results, terming the landslide victory of grand alliance in the Parliamentary election as 'the victory of spirit of War of Liberation'.

CG to relinquish power within 10 days

The Bangladesh Today

As the 9th parliament election is over, the caretaker govt has taken all out preparations for relinquishing power within ten days to the party which has bagged majority of seats.
Election results will be published within seven days and within next three days the newly elected members of the parliament will be sworn in. Then the newly elected government will be formed.
Meanwhile- Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman expressed his satisfaction over the CG holding a transparent and credible poll. He called upon the winning party to remain responsible and accountable while the defeated party should resort to lesson and self realisation.
He reiterated that the elections have been held fairly and neutrally where people cast their votes with festive mood without any interference and the govt is proud of holding such a transparent poll.

Highest 64 women elected to 9th JS

The New Age BD

The ninth parliament will have the highest number of 64 female lawmakers, including 19 elected in Monday’s election and 45 to be elected for the female reserved seats. For the first time 19 women candidates contesting for 23 parliamentary seats defeated their male and female contestants by a huge number of votes.
This time 60 women candidates contested for 65 constituencies with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia for three seats each and Jatiya Party leader Rowshan Ershad for two.
But although female voters constitute half of the total voters, their representation in the parliament is not proportionate to number of female voters. The total number of voters is 8,10,58,698 while 4,12,36,149 are female.

28 grenades recovered : 2 JMB men held in Ctg

The New Nation BD

RAB arrested two suspected cadres of outlawed JMB and seized 28 homemade grenades from a residential hotel in the city yesterday. Masood and Korshed, both in their late 20s, were held from a room of Nirpad residential hotel at Teribazar at 6pm. On search, the grenades and more than 100 jihadi books and audiocassettes were recovered from the room. Hotel owner Yunus was also held for interrogation.
RAB claimed that Masood who came from Comilla has confessed his involvement in the December 23 abortive attempt of grenade attack on BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's election campaign at Debidwar. He also named his associates.

30 Dec 2008

Bangladesh stunned by Awami victory

Sabir Mustafa, BBC

DHAKA - Bangladesh is set for a government with the biggest parliamentary majority since 1973, following Monday's general elections designed to bring an end to two years of military-backed rule.
In an election marked by high turnout and few incidents, the centre-left Awami League - headed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina - and its allies pulled off a stunning victory, winning a two-thirds majority in the single-chamber national assembly.
The Mohajot (Grand Coalition) alliance practically demolished its rivals, the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist ally the Jamaat-e-Islami. All top leaders of the Jamaat lost their seats.
The sheer scale of the Awami League's victory has left people searching for an explanation. Even the party's leaders appear to be taking a pause for thought.

Heavy turnout in peaceful voting : Common people appreciate general poll saying extraordinary

The Bangladesh Today

The people of Bangladesh men and women, young and old alike cast their votes with unprecedented enthusiasm in the 9th parliament polls held across the country peacefully except some stray incidents of disturbance on Monday.
The polling took place in 299 of the 300 Jatiya Sangsad seats and the turnout was heaviest since independence in 1971. The voting began at 8am and continued till 4 pm without any break. A total of 8,10,58,698 people were supposed to cast their votes amid foolproof security cover put up by military and paramilitary troops, police, and Ansar-VDP personnel.

300 migrants feared dead off Andaman islands : Most of them Bangladeshis

The New Age BD

About 300 illegal migrants, mostly Bangladeshis, are feared dead after they jumped from a boat and tried to swim ashore in India’s remote Andaman islands, the Indian coast guard said on Sunday. A senior coast guard official said they had rescued 88 people from a small boat near Little Andaman island on Saturday.
Another 11 men were found on nearby Sandy Point island, said SP Sharma, commander of the coast guard for the Andaman region, adding that about 300 men were still missing.
Preliminary investigations suggested the men had left Bangladesh bound for Malaysia in six motorised boats about 45 days ago. At some point on their journey, the men had changed vessels, a coast guard statement said.
One survivor, identified as Mohammad Ismail Arafat, said he and others had paid a Bangladeshi agent for promised jobs.

If fair polls held, BNP will win - Khaleda : She is displeased over law enforcers and administration role

The Bangladesh Today

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Monday alleged that the leaders and activists of four-party alliance are being arrested from different places of the country in order to harass them.
She felt that the administration and law enforcing agencies are not plying neutral role from their respective positions. The administration will have to be neutral in order to make the national parliament election a success.
She said if the administration ensures its neutrality in holding polls, BNP will achieve landslide victory in the election.
Meanwhile, BNP has opened a media cell at its party Chairperson's Gulshan Office. In the media cell, BNP Office Secretary at a press conference alleged BNP leaders and activists throughout the country are at risk as they are being issued threats in many ways.

Hasina says after voting I’ll accept JS poll results : Confident on mega alliance’s win

The Bangladesh Today

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said all political parties should accept the results of Monday's ninth Parliamentary polls through which democracy will be restored in the country.
"If the poll is held in a free, fair and credible manner, I am confident that people will give their valuable verdict to the AL-led grand alliance. Insha llah Through a landslide victory, we would get an opportunity to serve the countrymen and Bangladesh would be established as a peaceful and terrorism-free country in the south-Asian region," she told newsmen after casting vote at Dhaka City College centre with her sister Sheikh Rehana at 8:30am on Monday.

29 Dec 2008

Nation goes to polls today : Massive security measures for 9th JS elections

The Bangladesh Today

Displaying a landmark progress in the quest for "a govt of the people, by the people and for the people", the nation goes to polls today (Monday) to elect the 9th parliament amid massive security measures as two key rivals Awami League led-grand alliance and BNP led four-party alliance and other political parties and independent candidates put their popularity to test in the battle of ballot.
Meanwhile, the government, the Election Commission and political leaders have completed all their preparations for the parliamentary elections. Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda addressed the nation.

Bangladesh Navy keep patrolling as Indian ships get back

UNB/ The Independent

Bangladesh Navy ships continued their patrol in the deep sea early Sunday as two survey ships from India sailed back in the Indian waters beyond the sight of Naval patrol.
An ISPR press release yesterday, however, said that the Maritime Petrol Aircraft (MPA) and ships of Indian Coast Guards continued to come and go in the same area.
Earlier on December 25, Bangladesh Navy ships identified the two ships of Australian company, SANTOS, engaged by Indian government, conducting surveys after intruding into Bangladesh's Exclusive Economic Zone (EFZ).

CA urges political parties : Accept poll results gracefully

The New Nation BD

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed urged the electorates to cast their votes consciously and wisely and appealed to the political parties to gracefully accept the results of tomorrow' s crucial general election. "Let us get united and participate in an appropriate democratic process.
I hope tomorrow's parliament elections will be a classic example not only for our nation but also in the international domain," he said in his address to the nation over radio and television on the eve of the polls.
"We want to find unity, solidarity and unity in diversity. Today, it is critically important to have mutual respect, harmony and tolerance," he said.
Lastly, in an emotion-charged voice, the head of the outgoing interim government said, "We had mistakes too. Maybe, sometimes I had been unintentionally the cause of someone's sorrow. For that I sincerely express my regret. I hope you will forgive our flaws and failures."

AL expects ‘absolute majority’ : Foreign observers hope polls will be free, fair

The New Age BD

The European Parliamentary Party, the European Union polls observation team and the National Democratic Institute on Sunday hoped that Bangladesh’s ninth parliamentary polls today would be free and fair through which the people would elect a new government.
The party hoped that all the political parties would accept the results of the elections. ‘Nothing untoward would happen in the elections’, it added.
The Awami League on Sunday said it was confident of winning an absolute majority in today’s polls.

1000 mw electricity added by caretaker govt : Accord to build 50 mw Shikalbaha Power Plant

The New Nation BD

The next elected govt will not face any impediment in power sector in the next one or two years as the caretaker govt has already added over 1000 MW of electricity during its two-year tenure, said Power Division Secretary yesterday.
He was addressing a signing ceremony of Sikalbaha-50 MW power plant project at the Biddut Bhaban. The power plant project will be jointly implemented by the Power Development Board (PDB) and the Energies Power Corporation Limited.
He informed that additional 1164.2 MW of electricity will be produced by June next year.
Meanwhile, CA's special advisor Dr M Tamim said that the caretaker government reformed the power sector to reduce the gap of power production and distribution system. The residents are getting benefits of the reform in this sector, he said.

28 Dec 2008

Khaleda apologises for mistakes, if any : Launches bitter attack on AL, but asks Hasina to work together for development

The Daily Star

In a speech scathing about Awami League (AL) and its President Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon her archrival to shun 'politics of vengeance' and work together for the country. Addressing a mammoth election rally at historic Paltan Maidan in the city.
Khaleda also apologised for mistakes if made any during her rule in 2001-2006. She promised to learn from the mistakes if voted to power.
Pointing at her opponents, she said there is no time to bicker over the past. “Let's forget what happened and start working in unison to build a self-reliant nation, shunning politics of revenge and anarchy.”
The BNP chief said hartal, blockade and siege cause huge losses to the country. “No matter which party we belong to and wherever we are, the country should take precedence over everything else. We need to work together to recover the damage done.”
Dismissing AL's allegations against BNP of patronising terrorism, she said the people know who are responsible for tentacles of terrorism sliding across the country.

Modern Bangladesh : Pledges Hasina at Ctg : deep sea port, hanging bridge on Karnaphuli if AL elected

The Daily Star

The grand electoral alliance's last campaign rally led by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at Laldighi Maidan in the port city of Chittagong yesterday turned into an ocean of people again, spilling over onto the adjacent roads and alleyways.
There she reiterated her resolve to transform Bangladesh into a modern, science and technology based developed country free of bribery, corruption and terrorism, if on Monday her alliance is voted to rule the country.
Hasina for the first time introduced grand alliance nominees for different Chittagong seats at the rally chaired by Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury who is also the president of the city unit of Awami League (AL).
Emphasising on Chittagong's development, she said if elected to power, her grand alliance will develop the division's infrastructure and the port city into the commercial capital.

2 lakh to observe JS polls : 500 foreign observers now in country

The Daily Star

Over two lakh local and more than 500 foreign observers will monitor the December 29 parliamentary election across the country. The Election Commission Secretariat sources said they have already given approval to 96 local non-government voluntary organisations for observation of the election all over the country.
Of the total observers, 1.78 lakh will be alone of Election Working Group, a conglomeration of 32 NGOs.
Sources in the EC secretariat said around 70 people will work as interpreters and around 100 will be staffers of the local embassies and high commissions of different countries.

UN appeal to parties - Demonstrate responsibility, honour people’s will

The New Nation BD

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon appealed to political parties in Bangladesh to demonstrate responsibility, participate fully in December 29 election and honour people's will, as the stage is now set for the polls amid an air of doubts and dithering still persisting.
He also encouraged the caretaker government and the election commission to continue their efforts to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

27 Dec 2008

Stop exploration in Bay until the maritime boundary delimitation issue is resolved : Dhaka tells Delhi

The New Age BD

Bangladesh on Friday asked India to stop hydrocarbon exploration in the Bay of Bengal until the maritime boundary delimitation issue is resolved on a mutual agreement.
Indian naval ships along with exploration vessel refused to leave Bangladesh’s territorial waters despite Dhaka’s protest.
Quoting naval officials, a foreign ministry official said the Bangladesh Navy had earlier lodged a protest with the Indian navy about the intrusion and asked India them to pull out from Bangladesh’s territorial waters.
The latest row in the Bay of Bengal took place less than two months of Myanmar’s intrusion into Bangladesh’s territorial waters for hydrocarbon exploration, some 60 nautical miles off St Martins Island.
Yangon finally pulled out of the Bangladesh waters after Dhaka’s hectic diplomatic parleys involving Beijing and Seoul.

Hasina plays on people's expectation for a change : Pledges from highly-secured dais to contain food prices, graft, crime; winds up Dhaka campaign

The Daily Star

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina said her grand electoral alliance wants to bring a change to the country to establish a rule of honest people and economic freedom for the people with a popular mandate for the people of Bangladesh through the upcoming election, and for that change is needed.
"We want a rule of honest people, not politics of criminality, extortion and corruption. We want peace, not criminal activities, we want security for the people, not militancy," Hasina said.
She was addressing a massive election campaign rally at the capital's historic Paltan Maidan amid unprecedented security measures including bullet proof glass fitted on the lectern.
Thousands of AL activists and supporters as well as a large number of non-partisan people joined the rally.

Poll finances of parties kept under wraps : EC effort for transparent election economy not making that impact

The Daily Star

The two major political parties, BNP and Awami League (AL), have been keeping a cloak of secrecy around their election finances with most of their policymakers left in the dark. Aided by a select few, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina have been operating the election funds like they always did in the past.
When these correspondents enquired about their election expenses so far, both the parties' spokesmen said the information can be accessed once they submit their expenditure accounts to the Election Commission (EC) after the December 29 election.
Political analysts observe the way AL and BNP are handling their funds brings into question their commitment to financial transparency. Both the parties, they think, have exceeded the ceilings.

EU mission deploys 100 poll observers

The New Nation BD

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) yesterday deployed nearly 100 short-term observers across Bangladesh. They will be joining the 44 long-term observers who have been in the field for the past five weeks, following all preparations and the work of the Bangladesh Electoral Commission.
The short-term observers were briefed on Christmas Day, and will now travel to the areas in which they will observe the opening, voting, closing and counting processes in polling centres in all of the districts of Bangladesh.
This last complement of observers brings the mission to its full capacity of 150 observers for Election Day.
All EU observers are bound by an internationally accepted code of conduct. This means that they maintain strict neutrality in the course of their work and cannot interfere in any way in the electoral process.

Banned groups inactive in SW region

The New Nation BD

'Outlawed' extremist parties have not been seen active in the southwest ahead of elections this time, as police have taken strict measures and maintained "good vigilance", say Khulna law enforcers. "They will not be able to resurface," says Khulna deputy inspector general of police.
"Their organisational base has been shattered due to RAB and police operations. Armed encounters with RAB and police have left dead more than 400 extremist leaders of the Khulna division," he told.
"The clandestine parties have no activities at all and they are absent from electoral programmes," said one official, declining to be named.

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