Monday, October 20, 2025

Help stop lopsided polls

Ershad, civil society urge Taranco
Country’s civil society leaders have called upon visiting United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco to help stop the one-sided national polls scheduled to be held on January 5. On Sunday, Taranco received a civil society delegation at his hotel and also held meetings with Jatiya party Chairman HM Ershad, the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran and BNP Vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury.
He was scheduled to meet representatives of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, but the meeting did not take place, said sources concerned.
After a meeting between the UN Assistant Secretary-General and a civil society delegation at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel on Sunday afternoon, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain told reporters “We have urged them (the UN delegation, led by Taranco) to stop the train of one-sided elections.”
“They said their efforts will continue in this regard and we said that we will continue our efforts,” he said.
Dr Kamal said that confrontation and violence must stop. Asked if they recommended the holding of polls under a caretaker government or under the present constitution, he said, “What is acceptable to all should happen.”
Responding to a question, Dr Kamal, also the Gonoforum president, said the election schedule could be deferred under the law.
He said that Taranco wanted to know different aspects of the situation as asked questions which they replied to. Dr Kamal, however, declined to elaborate any further.
Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, a former caretaker government adviser, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, the secretary of Sushaner Jonyo Nagorik (SUJON) and Dr Shahdeen Malik, a constitution expert, were the other members of the delegation.
Regarding any change to the poll-schedule, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said, “The Chief Election Commissioner already said that schedule would be deferred if there was a consensus among the parties.” Dr Shahdeen Malik said that the UN wanted elections with the participation of all major parties.
“None of us wants one-sided elections. People of Bangladesh want elections like 2008 where 87 per cent of the voters voted. The UN wants polls with participation of all. The whole world wants it,” he said.
The civil society representatives claimed that Taranco did not bring with him any particular formula from New York.
Earlier in the day, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad told Taranco that he was not going to participate in the election if it would not be a participatory one. Ersahd said this when the visting UN assistant secretary general met him at the former president’s Baridhara residence, President Park. JP secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and JP presidium member GM Quader briefed journalists about the meeting.
“Our party chairman HM Ershad informed the visiting UN assistant secretary general for political affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, that we will not take part in the January 5 elections unless all political parties participate in them. Besides, the current atmosphere of the country is not congenial for holding fair elections,” Hawlader said.
They also urged the United Nations delegation to take initiatives to ensure that a fresh election schedule is announced so that all political parties can participate in the polls, he said.
“The visiting UN envoy wanted to know about the entire scenario relating to the current political impasse. We have explained our position as well as the overall situation of the country,” he further said in reply to a query.
“We want a ‘respectable solution’ within a short time so that all the political parties, including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), can join the polls,” Hawlader added.
“Our main agenda is the rescheduling of the elections. The polls have to be delayed. It is impossible to hold free, fair and credible elections under the current circumstances. The JP will not take part in the 10th Parliamentary elections sans the main Opposition BNP,” Ershad’s brother, GM Quader, said.
He said that the government should introduce a system for holding fair polls after taking the opinions of all political parties, so that all parties can take part in the election.
“Normalcy and peace cannot be restored in the country if the elections are held under such circumstances. Besides, these elections would not gain acceptance, both locally and internationally,” Quader asserted.
Taranco arrived at Ershad’s residence at 9:30am and held talks with the Jatiya Party chairman for an hour. Hawlader and Quader assisted Ershad during the meeting.
Later, when Taranco during his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad asked him whether it would be possible to defer the elections, the CEC said, many things can be done if the political parties reach a negotiation.
Talking to reporters before leaving his office about the commission’s meeting with Taranco, the CEC said the UN envoy asked them whether it is possible to defer the election schedule.
“We’ve told them (UN) that many things are possible to do if there’s any negotiation among the political parties. But everything has to be done within the legal framework,” Rakibuddin said.
He, however, told the UN envoy that the issue (deferring election) turned complicated as there is no progress in sight for a negotiation through talks though two weeks have already elapsed since announcement of the election schedule.
The CEC on November 25 announced the schedule for the general election fixing the voting date for January 5 amid BNP’s boycott threat.
Meanwhile, in a related development, US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan Mozena held a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran, said the sources.

-With The Independent input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more