Describing the January 5, 2014 as a black day for democracy, the Supreme Court Bar Association on Sunday said no one witnessed such an unprecedented, candidate-less and voter-less farcical election not only in Bangladesh, but also in the world history. In a joint statement, SCBA president AJ Mohammad Ali, also adviser to BNP chairperson, and acting ... Read more
Month: January 2014
Election studded with 21 deaths, low turnout
AL wins absolute majority; oppn extends hartal by 48 hours Massive violence killing at least 21 deaths, rigging and low turnout marked the 10th parliament election held across the country yesterday. According to the preliminary results announced from offices of the Returning Officers across the country, the voter turnout was over 40 percent but it is ... Read more
AL happy with turnout
The ruling Awami League on Sunday expressed its satisfaction over voter turnout during the 10th parliamentary polls, saying the ‘valiant people rejected” the opposition call to boycott the election, reports UNB. This was stated by Co-chairman of Awami League Election Steering Committee HT Imam and AL advisory council member Tofail Ahmed during separate
Cancel election: BNP
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday demanded cancellation of the polls and announcement of a fresh schedule for the 10th parliamentary elections, claiming that the country’s people have rejected the ‘lopsided’ polls, reports UNB. It also asked the government to quit and take initiatives for holding the election under a non-party caretaker government through
Polls get int’l media attention
Reports on series of violent clashes, boycotts and low voter turnout in the 10th Bangladesh parliamentary election have hit headlines of almost all leading media houses and news agencies in the world. The Associated Press (AP) focused on widespread violence and low voters’ turnout in the polls. It said, “Police in Bangladesh fired at protesters ... Read more
Zero turnout in 32 centres
The country’s 10th parliamentary election yesterday saw zero turnout in at least 32 polling centres in five districts, reports UNB. ocals said the polling officials in 26 polling centres under Lalmonirhat-3 constituency wrapped up the voting without a single vote being cast. The polling stations are situated in Mahendranagar, Borobari, Kulaghat and Panchagram union parishads
FEMA sees low turnout
Munira Khan, chief of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA), the country’s leading election monitoring organization, yesterday claimed that the average turn out in the 10th parliamentary polls was below ten per cent. “I personally visited many polling centers and our observers from different parts of the country also sent their reports, and according to the reports, ... Read more
CEC defends low voter turnout
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rokibuddin Ahmad yesterday admitted poor voter turnout and said the low turnout was logical due to the boycott of polls by the opposition parties. However, the CEC added that he had visited a polling centre in Dhaka and its voting environment was fine and the election was held peacefully. At ... Read more
16 pull out during voting
At least 16 candidates have boycotted the 10th parliamentary elections, bringing allegations of irregularities and vote rigging by their opponents from ruling Awami League. Of them, nine are independents contesting the polls as rival candidates of ruling Awami League, six from the Jatiya party and one from BNF. The independent candidates are Bodiuzzaman
Rigging with help of polling officials
Ruling party activists at different polling centres under Dhaka-5 constituency were seen rigging ballots with the help of a section of polling officers in the presence of law enforcement agencies on Sunday. The polling centres include AK High School and College (new building) at Dania, Matuail Paschimpara Government Primary School, Matuail Ideal High School,
Leisure time for polling officials
Most of the presiding and polling officers and agents of candidates were seen sitting idle during polling hours at different polling centres of Dhaka-15 and Dhaka-16 constituencies on Sunday. A visit to different polling centres of the two constituencies, including the Mirpur Girls’ Ideal Laboratory Institute, Mirpur Adarsha High School, Pallabi Government
Voting in 126 centres postponed
Voting in 126 polling centres in 12 districts has been postponed following arson attacks on the eve of the 10th national election on Sunday, reports UNB. Sources at the Election Commission Secretariat said polling at 126 centres of the 12 districts has been postponed due to destruction of the centres in arson
It’s black day for democracy: SCBA
Describing the Jan 5, 2014 as a black day for democracy, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Sunday said no one witnessed such an unprecedented, candidate-less and voter-less farcical election not only in Bangladesh, but also in the world history, reports UNB. In a joint statement, SCBA president AJ Mohammad Ali, also adviser to ... Read more
Moderate to thick fog likely at night
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of light rain at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisons and the regions of Kustia, Mymensingh and Tangail till 6:00pm today. Moderate to thick fog may occur elsewhere over the country during midnight till morning, Met Office said. Mild cold ... Read more
Shilpakala’s preservation plan continues
Hason Raja Academy Shilpakala’s preservation plan continues The demand for preservation of the legendary mystic bard from greater Sylhet region Hason Raja’s works will see the light of the day soon. The director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky said that seventy per cent of the project titled Hason Raja Academy had already ... Read more
NCL shelved once again
BCL back on BCB agenda The Bangladesh Cricket Board took a new initiative of starting the franchise-based first-class competition as it is unable to hold the National Cricket League in this political situation. The NCL, country’s lone first-class competition until last year, was scheduled to start on January 8, but the BCB insiders said they ... Read more
Sakib shines in Big Bash debut
Ace all-rounder Sakib al Hasan made his bow at the Big Bash on Sunday and almost led Adelaide Strikers to a victory against Sydney Sixers at the Adelaide Oval. Sakib smashed 46 runs off 30 balls with the help of three boundaries and two sixes and scalped 2-21 from his four overs as the Strikers ... Read more
Controversial one-sided polls to deepen economic crisis: experts
The 10th national elections held on Sunday amid violence and boycott by the main opposition alliance led by the BNP will deepen economic crisis continuing in the country over the last several months, economists said. The election will not bring any positive change in already devastated economic situation, rather the economy will move further towards the ... Read more
BB asks 30 banks to explain by January 19
Unsettled Inland Bills BB asks 30 banks to explain by January 19 Bangladesh Bank has issued show-cause notices to 30 scheduled banks to explain why they failed to settle their back-to-back inland bills against local letters of credit in line with the central bank’s directions. A BB official told New Age on Thursday that the central ... Read more
1:1 margin loan ratio comes into effect
Stock Market 1:1 margin loan ratio comes into effect The new margin loan ratio which has come into effect this month will allow merchant banks and brokerage houses to issue margin loans to their clients at 1:1. Previously merchant banks and brokerage houses were allowed to give margin loans at 1:1.5. As per the new margin ... Read more