[🇧🇩] Forming Election Commission/Conducting Elections

[Saif]

Election must be held in February, there’s no alternative to it: Mirza Fakhrul

Now our goal is only one - the election must be held in February of 2026, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday. “Our goal is only one now - the election in Bangladesh must be held in February of 2026. There is no alternative to that,”...

en.prothomalo.com

Election must be held in February, there’s no alternative to it: Mirza Fakhrul
Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Updated: 14 Jul 2025, 21: 33

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on 14 July 2025 addresses as the chief guest a rally, organised by Dhaka city north and south units of the BNP at the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the capital on Monday. Dipu Malakar

Now our goal is only one - the election must be held in February of 2026, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.

“Our goal is only one now - the election in Bangladesh must be held in February of 2026. There is no alternative to that,” he stated while addressing a rally in front of the party headquarters in the capital’s Naya Paltan area today.

The BNP secretary general further said, “We will not compromise regarding the election. We want the election, and we want it to happen at the time that has been decided.”

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was addressing as the chief guest of a rally and procession, organised by Dhaka city north and south units of the BNP, in protest against continuous conspiratorial lies and negative propaganda about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and on demand of exemplary punishment for the brutal killing near Mitford Hospital.

Dhaka city north and south units of the BNP organise a rally at the party's central office in Naya Paltan in protest against continuous conspiratorial lies and negative propaganda about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and on demand of exemplary punishment for the brutal killing near Mitford Hospital Prothom Alo

Just when people have become hopeful of an election after the meeting in London, at that moment several political quarters and some other cliques have been conspiring to take politics at a different route, Mirza Fakhrul alleged.

“Such conspiracy is nothing new. These conspirators are trying to destabilise Bangladesh once again. They have been trying so that no election takes place in Bangladesh,” he stated.

Mirza Fakhrul termed this planning as “extremely dangerous”.

“When the chief adviser confirmed Tarique Rahman during the meeting in London that there will be an election this time, since then that quarter has become crazy. Those who speak against Tarique Rahman and the BNP, are enemies of democracy and enemies of the country,” he added.

Dhaka city north and south units of the BNP organise a rally in protest against continuous conspiratorial lies and negative propaganda about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and on demand of exemplary punishment for the brutal killing near Mitford Hospital Dipu Malakar

Without taking anyone’s name, the BNP secretary general said those who are now speaking and chanting slogans against Tarique Rahman in obscene language, thought the BNP will backtrack if they say use such languages. But the BNP is that party that time and again fought back all the challenges.

Mirza Fakhrul also warned the party leaders and activists that a certain quarter is trying very hard to entrap the BNP by making them excited.

He further expressed that the BNP waged a movement along with the people to goodbye to the fascists. The party will erect a bulwark so that no more fascist could arise in this country.​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/citizens-can-become-voters-until-announcement-of-election-schedule

Citizens can become voters until announcement of election schedule

BSS
Published :
Jul 17, 2025 20:03
Updated :
Jul 17, 2025 20:03

The Council of Advisers on Thursday gave final approval to the draft of the ‘Voters’ List (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’.

This will allow the country’s eligible citizens to become voters until the announcement of the election schedule or they will get such opportunity when they complete 18 years.

The final draft of the ordinance was approved today at a meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the Chief Adviser’s Office. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus chaired it.

Later, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad briefed reporters at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Currently, citizens who turn 18 by December each year can be included in the voters list in January of the following year.

Foyez Ahammad said, “Under the current system, only those who turn 18 by December of the previous year prior to the updating of the voters list are included in the list out of those Bangladeshi citizens who are eligible to be voters. Every year, the Election Commission publishes the draft list on January 2 and the final list on March 2.”

He went on saying, “As a result, those who turn 18 before holding of the next election can’t take part in that and they become excluded from the list. They have to wait again until the next election. Under such reality, the Election Commission thinks since the final voters list must be prepared before announcing the election schedule, those who become eligible within the rationale timeframe before the announcement of the schedule can be included in the voters list.”

Foyez said that with the approval of the final draft of the ‘Voters’ List (Amendment) Ordinance 2025’, individuals who will turn 18 at least one month prior to the announcement of the election schedule will now have the opportunity to be included in the voters’ list.

In addition, the Council of Advisers also gave final approval to the draft of ‘Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance, 2025’.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that this ordinance expands the scope for donating human organs by the potential organ donors.

He said, “This will make much easier the kidney transplants in the country. It has been drafted in compliance with the international laws. The ordinance also specifies how organs can be collected from the dead bodies after death and how can be transplanted.”

Meanwhile, the meeting also gave final approval to the draft of the ‘Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025’ subject to vetting by the Legislative Division and Parliamentary Affairs Division.

In response to a question, Shafiqul Alam said that the committee formed to investigate the violence and casualties in Gopalganj would conduct a thorough investigation into the entire incident like why the incident happened, how the deaths took place and to identify those who were responsible for the violence.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir was also present.​

 

[Saif]

Fakhrul warns of rising tensions, urges govt to expedite elections

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged the interim government to promptly move towards holding elections, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly complicated as time passes. "It seems the situation is getting more complicated with each passing day. Tho

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Fakhrul warns of rising tensions, urges govt to expedite elections

FE Online Report
Published :
Jul 19, 2025 17:27
Updated :
Jul 19, 2025 17:27

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged the interim government to promptly move towards holding elections, warning that the situation is becoming increasingly complicated as time passes.

"It seems the situation is getting more complicated with each passing day. Those who do not believe in democracy or a society free of exploitation are regrouping once again," he said.

Speaking at a discussion titled 'Expectations of the Mass Uprising and the Path to Democratic Transition in the Country' organised by Ganatantra Manch at the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader spoke about the nation's democratic future.

Fakhrul urged the government to "identify the problems without unnecessary delay and engage in dialogue with political parties. Then, move forward towards elections. That seems to be the only way forward."

Referring to the aftermath of the August 5 regime fall, Fakhrul noted that it had opened a new opportunity to establish a democratic system in Bangladesh. "It seems the situation is becoming more complicated. Those who do not believe in democracy, people's progress, or politics aimed at building a just and exploitation-free society are once again forming alliances. The fascist forces that we were once able to oust are now quietly reorganising and conspiring to regain power."

Expressing concerns over rising incidents of mob rule, killings, muggings and enforced disappearances, Fakhrul warned, "If we lose this opportunity, Bangladesh will fall further behind. Every time, our people and youth give their lives to create an opening. It is unacceptable that we would squander such chances due to our own irresponsibility."

He stressed the importance of swiftly advancing reforms, the July Charter issue and election-related efforts, asserting that the sooner progress is made, the better it will be for the country.

"There is no doubt that this responsibility lies with the interim government. But the longer the delay, the murkier the situation becomes. The forces opposed to uprisings and to Bangladesh itself are reuniting and working to destroy democracy once again."

Fakhrul expressed hope that interim government leader Dr Muhammad Yunus would be able to unite the nation and lead it towards achieving the common goal. Labeling the BNP as a democratic party, Fakhrul stated, "We want to take responsibility for running the state through elections and build a welfare-oriented state. Just as we have overcome obstacles in the past, no barrier can stop us in the days ahead."

Fakhrul said, "The 1971 and independence are at the heart of our philosophy. There can be no compromise there, nor in our commitment to democratic governance. Through dialogue, tolerance and acceptance of differing views, we believe we can reach a point where we can re-establish a truly democratic system."

Zonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolan; Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP); Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP); and Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party were, among others, present.​

 

[Saif]

Jamaat Ameer opposes delaying elections, demands free and fair polls

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said his party does not want any delay in the upcoming national election but stressed that it must be free, fair, and transparent. “We do not want a delayed election, but it must be acceptable and neutral. Jamaat-e-Islami will not

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Jamaat Ameer opposes delaying elections, demands free and fair polls

UNB
Published :
Jul 23, 2025 23:57
Updated :
Jul 23, 2025 23:57

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said his party does not want any delay in the upcoming national election but stressed that it must be free, fair, and transparent.

“We do not want a delayed election, but it must be acceptable and neutral. Jamaat-e-Islami will not accept any rigged election like in the past,” he said while addressing a gathering of party leaders and supporters in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet.

“We will not allow anyone to exploit the nation for personal gain anymore. No one will be allowed to misuse public resources,” he added.

Shafiqur also said, “We don’t want a divided Bangladesh. We want a humane and equitable nation. To build such a country, we need the love, support, and participation of the people.”

Referring to Jamaat's initiative after August 5, he said, “Despite facing persecution, we called for national unity because we want stability in the country. We ensured the safety of religious minorities in the past and continue to do so. But during previous governments, minority communities faced the worst repression.”

He alleged that no government in the past 52 years has truly cared for the people. “They were busy securing their own interests and strengthening their political bases. We must remain vigilant so that such a time never returns,” he added.

The event, a manpower and community gathering, was organised by the Beanibazar upazila and Pourashava units of Jamaat. It was presided over by Upazila Ameer Maulana Faizul Islam and conducted by Secretary Abul Kashem and PourashavaAmeer Kazi Jamir Hossain.

Special guests included Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zobayer, Central Executive Committee Member and Dhaka North City Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, Sylhet District Ameer Maulana Habibur Rahman, and Sylhet Metropolitan Ameer Fakhrul Islam, among others.​

 

[Saif]

Govt on right track over elections, says Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the interim government is on the right track over the national election. “We had detailed talks on accelerating the election process. The Chief Adviser reiterated his commitment to holding the national election between...

en.prothomalo.com

Govt on right track over elections, says Fakhrul

UNBDhaka
Published: 23 Jul 2025, 21: 33

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the interim government is on the right track over the national election.

“We had detailed talks on accelerating the election process. The Chief Adviser reiterated his commitment to holding the national election between mid-February and March. We believe necessary steps should be taken accordingly and he assured us they would be,” he said.

Fakhrul was talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office following a meeting with ‘Bangladesh Nationalist Ethnic Minority Party’.

Responding to a question from reporters over Tuesday night's meeting with the Chief Adviser, he said, “The Chief Adviser suddenly called us. He does it from time to time, especially when a crisis arises in government. We responded because we are committed to supporting this government and will do whatever is necessary to restore democracy.”

He said they believed such interactions should be held more frequently.

Referring to the recent jet crash in Uttara, the BNP leader said, “Many young lives were lost in the accident. I personally visited the site. We expressed our condolences. In the aftermath, two advisers were confined at Milestone School.”

“Again, due to complications surrounding the exams, students entered the Secretariat, and everyone saw that it created an administrative crisis. A few days earlier, fascist elements created chaos in Gopalganj. It felt like a sign of their resurgence,” he added.

He said the Chief Adviser told them that political parties had resisted the fascist forces and invited them for discussions.

“It's natural that this government will have flaws. But rather than focusing on the weaknesses, we should appreciate their intent. I don't see any lack of sincerity in their approach to the election,” Fakhrul said responding to another question.

When asked about the National Consensus Commission’s proposal that the head of government and the party chief should not be the same person, Fakhrul said, “That is their proposal. Political parties are expressing their opinions both in favor and against. All voices must be heard—that’s the essence of democracy. Let all flowers bloom.”

Asked whether the government showed any negligence in handling the situation over Uttara aircraft crash, he said, “There was no negligence, but there was a lack of experience. They have never run a state before. Unlike us, they lack the experience of governance.”

“One more issue is ego. They don’t consult us on anything. They don't take advice from us—perhaps out of ego,” he added.

In response to whether recent unrest is aimed at disrupting the election, Fakhrul said, “Some chaos is indeed happening. It’s clear that fascist forces are trying to stir up trouble.”​

 

[Saif]

Chief Adviser to announce election date in four to five days: Mustafa Jamal

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will announce the date of the upcoming national parliamentary election within the next four to five days, said Mustafa Jamal Haider, Chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar faction), after a meeting with the Chief Adviser along with leaders of 14 political pa

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Chief Adviser to announce election date in four to five days: Mustafa Jamal

FE Online Report
Published :
Jul 26, 2025 19:05
Updated :
Jul 26, 2025 19:05

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will announce the date of the upcoming national parliamentary election within the next four to five days, said Mustafa Jamal Haider, Chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar faction), after a meeting with the Chief Adviser along with leaders of 14 political parties at the state guest house, Jamuna, on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Mustafa Jamal Haider said, “The Chief Adviser told us he will announce the election date within the next four to five days. There can be no better news than this.”

The Jatiya Party leader also commented that the ongoing unrest will be resolved through elections. “Many problems will be solved through the electoral process,” he said.

The political leaders who participated in the meeting on Saturday were Aminul Haque Tipu Biswas of the Jatiya Gano Front, Mostafa Jamal Haider of the 12-Party Alliance, Maulana Abdul Majed Athari of the Nezame Islam Party, Maulana Yusuf Ashraf of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Fariduzzaman Farhad, Chairman of the NPP (National People’s Party), Syed Ehsanul Huda, Chairman of the Jatiya Party, Dr Mushtaq Hossain of Bangladesh JASAD, Bobby Hajjaj of the Nationalist Democratic Movement, Shamim Haider, Secretary General of the Zaker Party, Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Raji, Secretary General of the Islami Oikya Jote, Rafiqul Islam Babul, Chairman of the Bhasani Janashakti Party, Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party, Masud Rana, Coordinator of the Marxist–BASAD, and Manjurul Islam Afendi of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

Earlier, the Chief Adviser had held two rounds of meetings with leaders from various political parties and alliances, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. This day’s meeting involved representatives from 14 more parties and alliances.​

 

[Saif]

Fascism to return if polls held without reforms: discussion

Politicians and civil society members on Saturday said that fascism could return if the next elections were held under the existing political framework without comprehensive state reforms.

www.newagebd.net

Fascism to return if polls held without reforms: discussion
Staff Correspondent 26 July, 2025, 23:54

Politicians and civil society members on Saturday said that fascism could return if the next elections were held under the existing political framework without comprehensive state reforms.

They expressed their concern over the slow progress of the state reform initiatives being undertaken by the interim government.

They made the remarks during a citizens’ dialogue on the country’s democratic transition, organised by the Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik at the Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Shujan, a citizens’ platform for good governance, presented a draft charter containing 21 proposals aimed at ensuring state reforms and free, fair elections.

The Key recommendations include the introduction of a bicameral parliament, balancing power between the president and the prime minister, forming a National Constitutional Council, reinstating the caretaker government system, decentralising the judiciary, and introducing a provision to recall lawmakers.

The Shujan acting president, Retired justice MA Matin, stressed that the charter should be formulated based on political consensus and people’s desire.

‘A provision must be made so that any law that contradicts the charter cannot be passed,’ he said.

Monir Haider, a special assistant to the chief adviser, admitted the slow progress over the state reform but said, ‘Even if revolutionary changes do not occur, implementing the agreed points will bring meaningful reforms to the state system.’

Shujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said, ‘Sheikh Hasina may have left, but she has left behind an authoritarian system. If we do not reform this system, authoritarian rule will persist and fascism will return.’

He said that Shujan’s proposed National Charter would be presented to the National Consensus Commission to help in the state reform.

‘The National Consensus Commission divided the reforms into two parts. Some reforms will be done by issuing ordinances, and some will need constitutional amendments,’ Badiul, also a member of the NCC, said.

NCC is trying to build consensus with political parties on basic reform issues to draft the July Charter,’ he said, and added that political parties had already agreed on 10 basic reform issues.

Local Government Reform Commission chief Professor Tofail Ahmed expressed his frustration over the lack of discussions on their unified draft law for local government.

‘If the government wants, it can issue ordinances within six months and form a local government commission,’ he said, urging immediate elections for local bodies.

Jasmin Tuli, who was a member of the Election Reform Commission, said, ‘In the past 53 years, no effort was made to build national consensus. Now we are seeing an attempt. I hope that necessary reforms will open the path for fair elections.’

She said, ‘Voters are often misled in different ways. In the coming elections, AI-based campaigns may confuse voters with false information. To hold fair elections, the right people must be appointed to the Election Commission.’

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Shama Obaid dismissed the narratives that suggest BNP’s disinterest in reforms and said that many of BNP’s 31 points align with Shujan’s proposals.

‘We must first reform democratic institutions, the judiciary, and the Anti-Corruption Commission,’ she said, stressing the need for political will to implement the reform proposals.

Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque termed the electoral system a ‘business entity’ and said that the alliance of mafia and evil forces would resurface if there was no systemic change.

National Citizen Party leader Tajnuba Jabin expressed her disappointment over the failure to ensure direct elections for women representatives, and said, ‘The NCP does not fear elections. It fears elections under the old system without any reforms. We want a democratic transformation of the state.’

Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur expressed his dissatisfaction with the interim government’s performance and called it ‘the weakest government in the past 53 years.’​

 

[Saif]

Election Commission must confront AI threats head-on

Effective safeguards are needed to prevent AI disruption in the election

www.thedailystar.net

Election Commission must confront AI threats head-on
Effective safeguards are needed to prevent AI disruption in the election

VISUAL: STAR

It is reassuring to see the chief election commissioner (CEC) address the challenge posed by artificial intelligence (AI) ahead of the upcoming election, which he described as "more dangerous than [conventional] weapons" due to its capacity to spread misinformation and disinformation. "It is now possible to circulate content using my exact image and voice," said AMM Nasir Uddin, calling the misuse of AI a "modern threat" capable of disrupting election campaigns and influencing the polls. He also mentioned other election-related challenges—such as the threat of illegal arms, restoring trust in the voting process, and ensuring voter turnout—but these are discussions for another day.

Knowing the problem doesn't guarantee that meaningful steps will follow, however. It is vital that the Election Commission implements effective safeguards including establishing robust monitoring mechanisms to detect AI-generated content, collaborating with experts and media houses to minimise its impact, updating legal frameworks, and raising public awareness. Currently, the electoral code of conduct lacks clear directives on this issue, which must be addressed. While conventional measures meant to ensure a level playing field are important, it is far more urgent now to curb the misuse of AI. This necessity is underscored by both global and local experiences, with a report by The New York Times revealing in June that AI was used in more than 80 percent of elections in 2024. AI has already played a role in at least nine major elections this year, it added.

With AI now making such fabrications easier and more convincing, the threat has multiplied. For example, a recent investigation by Dismislab catalogued 70 AI-generated political campaign videos, including reels, between June 18 and 28. These videos, created using Google's Veo text-to-video AI model, portrayed entirely fictional individuals (e.g. rickshaw drivers, garment workers, teachers, Hindu and Muslim women, young people, etc) offering endorsements for different political parties.

Locally, one may recall the circulation of fake content, including cloned voices of candidates, during recent elections. However, with AI now making such fabrications easier and more convincing, the threat has multiplied. For example, a recent investigation by Dismislab catalogued 70 AI-generated political campaign videos, including reels, between June 18 and 28. These videos, created using Google's Veo text-to-video AI model, portrayed entirely fictional individuals (e.g. rickshaw drivers, garment workers, teachers, Hindu and Muslim women, young people, etc) offering endorsements for different political parties. The initial waves of AI-generated messaging seemed to benefit Jamaat-e-Islami, but campaigners for rival parties like BNP and NCP are not far behind. The widespread circulation of such emotionally charged, synthetic content raises serious concerns about its disruptive effect as we near the election.

Clearly, we need better safeguards against this trend. While it is impossible to completely eliminate the threat of AI-generated content—nor is all such content produced with malicious intent—the EC must do all it can to limit its misuse with the help of relevant state agencies, political parties, and social media platforms. It is crucial to learn from the experiences of other countries where AI has already disrupted elections. Without swift, informed interventions, Bangladesh too risks seeing its much-awaited election marred by such technologies.​