United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission on Sunday cleared the way for most candidates facing dual citizenship complications to contest the February 12 national election, but rejected appeals from two BNP aspirants from Cumilla-3 and Cumilla-10. BNP candidate Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan (Cumilla-10) lost his candidature on ground of dual citizenship issue during the hearing in his absentia, while another BNP contestant Sarowar Alamgir (Chattogram-2) lost his candidacy on ground of loan default on Sunday. EC clears Aslam Chy, blocks BNP bids in Ctg-2, Cumilla-10 However, the EC, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, kept the fate of BNP candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzel Hossain Kaikobad (Cumilla-3) pending for the verification of denouncement of his Turkish citizenship. But the Commission is most likely to uphold his candidacy to run the election from Cumilla-3. Earlier, on Saturday, the Commission cancelled the candidacy of BNP’s Monzurul Ahsan Munshi and upheld that of National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, in Cumilla-4. Munshi's candidacy was revoked on the grounds of loan default. Read more: Swiss, Brazilian envoys meet Tarique  The EC heard more than 20 petitions related to dual citizenship issues, including several taken up suo motu, and delivered verdicts on all such appeals on Sunday, the final day of the nine-day hearing, aiming to ensure consistency in decisions on similar cases. The candidates, who faced dual citizenship barriers but their nominations were finally upheld or restored, include BNP candidates Abdul Awal Mintoo (Feni-3), Afroza Khanam (Manikganj-3), AKM Kamruzzaman (Dinajpur-5), Shama Obaid (Faridpur-2), Shawkatul Islam (Maulvibazar-2), Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan (Brahmanbaria-4), Moniruzzaman (Satkhira-4), Tahir Raihan (Sunamganj-2) and Fahim Chowdhury (Sherpur-2), Jamaat-e-Islami candidates Nazrul Islam (Dhaka-1), Zunaid Hasan (Brahmanbaria-3), AKM Fazlul Haqaue (Chattogram-9) and Mahbubul Alam (Kurigram-3), NCP candidate Ehteshamul Haque (Sylhet-1) independent candidates Anwar Hossain (Sunamganj-3) and Sujat Miah (Habiganj-1) and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Zahirul Islam (Noakhali-1). Besides, the Commission upheld the candidacy of BNP’s Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury (Chattogram-4) and restored the candidacy of Jamaat’s Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid (Jashore-2), settling the appeal petitions on ground of loan default. The EC on Saturday last (January 10) started hearing of the appeal petitions filed by aggrieved persons and organisations against the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance and cancellations of nomination papers during the scrutiny. The Commission ended the hearing settling  all the 645 appeals on Sunday (January 18). Following the nine-day hearing, more than 400 previously invalid candidates returned to the February-12 electoral race. Speaking at the conclusion of the hearings, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the Commission did not show any bias while disposing of appeals filed against decisions of returning officers. He said the EC even relaxed the requirement of one-percent voter endorsement for independent candidates to encourage broader participation, adding that the Commission wants a participatory election to be held. 60 more candidates reinstated on day 6 of appeals process “We assure that neither I nor my team delivered any judgment with bias,” the CEC said, adding that uniformity was maintained in decisions related to dual citizenship issues. According to the EC, a total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies by the December-29 deadline. After scrutiny, returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723 others. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the polls schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026. According to the schedule, the late date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till (7:30am on February 10) 48 hours before the balloting period.

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday (January 17, 2026) cancelled the candidacy of BNP’s Monzurul Ahsan Munshi and upheld that of National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, in Cumilla-4. The decision came after the EC, led by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, heard appeal petitions filed by both candidates against each other. The orders were issued in the afternoon. The EC accepted the appeal filed by Hasnat canceling the candidature of Monzurul Ahsan, but turned down the appeal filed by Monzurul Ahsan, declaring the candidacy of Hasnat valid in the upcoming national election scheduled for February-12. Free, fearless media vital to Bangladesh democracy: Journalists Munshi, in his petition, alleged that Hasnat did not mention the sources of his income rightly in the affidavit submitted with the nomination paper. Hasnat in his appeal alleged that Munshi is a loan defaulter and concealed the information in the nomination paper. The EC that acts the electoral appeal tribunal started hearing of the appeal on Saturday last (January 10) and will dispose of a total of 645 petitions by Sunday (January 18). The EC on Saturday last (January 10) started hearing of the appeal petitions filed by aggrieved persons and organisations against the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance and cancellations of nomination papers during the scrutiny. According to the EC, a total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline. Read more: NCP accuses EC officials of bias ahead of election After scrutiny, returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723 others.

Urging all to remain vigilant against any attempts to obstruct the path of democratic transition, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said his party still intends to show restraint despite what he described as the Election Commission’s recent controversial roles and positions. Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with family members of victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the anti-fascist movement, he also said that despite widespread repression, BNP leaders and activists never went into hiding or assumed a clandestine posture in the name of strategy. “Though it is painful to say, we have recently witnessed some controversial roles and positions taken by the Election Commission. Even then, as a responsible political party, we want to demonstrate patience,” Tarique said. He said generations of democracy-loving people should draw inspiration from the sacrifices of the martyrs and from those who were forcibly disappeared and are still missing, for whom families continue to wait. Amra BNP Poribar and Mayer Daak jointly arranged the programme at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center. The event honoured victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the Awami League government, and paid tribute to the late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Read More: Grenade Attack Case: SC to hear appeal petition challenging acquittal of Tareque, Babar Thursday Warning that some quarters are trying to create controversy to obstruct the democratic path, Tarique urged people of all political affiliations who believe in democracy to remain vigilant. “Those who are trying, using various pretexts, to create controversy and once again ruin the democratic path must not be allowed to succeed.” Referring to the long anti-fascist movement, he said its intensity had at times subsided and at other times reached its peak, but BNP leaders and activists never abandoned the streets despite years of enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, false cases, harassment and torture. “In the same family, if one brother was forcibly disappeared, another stepped forward to take his place and stood on the streets, pledging to intensify the movement further. BNP activists did not go into hiding or assume a covert or dormant posture in the name of strategy,” Tarique said. “I firmly believe that no one can suppress a party whose leaders and activists take such an uncompromising stand against injustice through conspiracy or propaganda, Insha’Allah,” the BNP Chairman observed. Addressing the bereaved families, the BNP Chairman reiterated the party’s long-standing pledge that if BNP, with the support of the people, forms the government, it will name important roads and key state institutions after the martyrs so that future generations can remember them with pride. “We are with you,” he said. Tarique also said families who suffered from state violence deserve proper state support. “I personally believe that the state must extend support to these families to the fullest extent possible,” he added. He said Bangladesh now has an opportunity to build a humane state that is accountable to the people. Tarique stressed the urgent need to establish a democratic government in Bangladesh to ensure justice for all past wrongs, including enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the Awami League’s rule. “If we miss this opportunity to form a responsible democratic state and government, the sacrifices of our martyrs will go unrecognised, and it will be an injustice to them,” he said. The BNP leader recalled those who were martyred in 1971 for the country’s independence, those who lost their lives in the 1990 anti-autocracy movement, victims of enforced disappearances over the past 16 years, and those who were martyred, injured or otherwise suffered during the August 5, 2024 movement. “All their sacrifices must be honoured with justice. To ensure justice for every injustice, a democratic government in Bangladesh is essential,” he added. Tarique also said the only way for families of victims to receive justice under the country’s laws is to establish a democratic government that fulfils the aspirations of the people and ensures justice for those who were oppressed and tortured. He called on all to remain committed to the cause, saying, “Let us take a pledge today and hold on to this expectation. Your presence here should not go in vain. We will work patiently so that justice is delivered for all wrongs and the families of martyrs and victims receive their rightful justice.” Read more: US officials hold virtual meeting with Tarique Rahman on tariff issue "The state can never forget you. To honour the sacrifices of all martyrs, BNP has planned initiatives,” Tarique said.  He, however, did not share the full details of the plan due to Election Commission regulations and the Election Code of Conduct. Some family members of those who were forcibly disappeared also shared their experiences of grief and suffering during the programme.

The Election Commission on Friday restored the candidacies of 18 more previously rejected aspirants, while upholding the candidacies of four others, including Sabira Sultana, the BNP-nominated candidate for Jashore-2 in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12 next. The EC that acts as the electoral appeal tribunal made the decisions hearing a total of 43 appeal petitions filed against the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance or cancellation of the nomination papers. Besides, 17 other previously rejected candidates couldn’t return to the race as the EC turned down the petitions to regain their candidacy.  The petitions filed by four invalid candidates, including two BNP aspirants for Sherpur-2 and Sirajganj-6 and Jamaat aspirant for Jashore-2 were kept pending to be settled later. The Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, on Friday settled 39 petitions and kept four petitions pending. With the 18 aspirants who regained candidacy, a total of 353 candidates returned to the electoral race in the last seven days since Saturday last (January 10) the day the hearing started. The Commission that acts as the electoral appeal tribunal so far heard some 500 petitions out of 645 appeals filed by aggrieved persons, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over acceptance and cancellation of nomination papers. Among the four candidates who remain valid, the Election Commission upheld the candidacy of BNP nominated Sabira Sultana for Jashore-2, rejecting the appeal petition filed by independent candidate Jahurul Islam. The EC , also upheld the candidacy of independent Arif Ul Islam Mridha in Narsingdi-3, rejecting the petition filed by BNP nominated Monjur Elahi. The four pending petitions were filed by two BNP invalid aspirants Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury (Sherpur-2) and Shafiqul Islam (Sirajganj-6), Jamaat invalid aspirant Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid (Jashore-2) and invalid independent aspirant Azad Chowdhury (Chattogram-8). Of the appeals, the petitions filed by Fahim Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin are scheduled to be settled on Saturday, while the petitions filed by Shafiqul Islam and Azad Chowdhury on Sunday, the last day of hearing. EC bars polls to all bodies, associations before Feb. 12 elections done The EC on Saturday last (January 10) started hearing of the appeal petitions filed by aggrieved persons and organisations against the decisions of the returning officers over the acceptance and cancellations of nomination papers during the scrutiny. According to the EC, a total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline. After scrutiny, returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723 others.

The Election Commission on Thursday announced a fresh election schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies to hold polls on February 12 next in line with the order of the Appellate Division. The election schedule was declared cancelling the previous schedule announced on December 11 last as per the court order passed on Thursday, said a notification issued by the EC. According to the new schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is January 18, while the scrutiny of the nomination papers is on January 19 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 26. The appeals can be submitted with the Election Commission from January 20 to 24, challenging the decisions of the returning officer over acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers. The EC will hear and dispose of the appeal petitions, if any, on January 25. The symbols will be allocated on January 27. Jamaat alleges deliberate harassment of its candidates by election officials Voting will be held together with the elections to the country’s other 298 constituencies, and the referendum. The Election Commission had earlier suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further directives from the court. An EC circular was issued on January 6 but made public on January 10, suspending the election to the two constituencies in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on January 5 over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the national parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2). On January 15, the Appellate Division on Thursday cleared the way for holding the elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on February 12 in accordance with the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s September 4 gazette. EC so far clears path for 275 to contest Feb-12 election An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order. As per the order, Sathia upazila will constitute Pabna-1 constituency while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will form Pabna-2.

The Election Commission on Thursday (January 15, 2026) announced a fresh election schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies to hold polls on February 12 next in line with the order of the Appellate Division. The election schedule was declared cancelling the previous schedule announced on December 11 last as per the court order passed on Thursday, said a notification issued by the EC. According to the new schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is January 18, while the scrutiny of the nomination papers is on January 19 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 26. 60 more candidates reinstated on day 6 of appeals process The appeals can be submitted with the Election Commission from January 20 to 24, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers. The EC will hear and dispose of the appeal petitions, if any, on January 25. The symbols will be allocated on January 27. The voting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm on February 12, simultaneously with the election to the country’s rest 298 constituencies and referendum. The Election Commission recently suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further directives from the court. Jamaat-led Alliance: NCP holds on to 30 seats, but IAB absent from press conference An EC circular was issued on January 6 but made public on January 10, suspending the election to the two constituencies in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on January 5 over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the national parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2). On January 15, the Appellate Division cleared the way for holding the elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on February 12 in accordance with the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s September 4 gazette. An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order. As per the order, Sathia upazila will constitute Pabna-1 constituency while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will form Pabna-2. Read more: No evidence of postal ballot irregularities found: EC Sanaullah

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday restored the candidacies of 60 more previously rejected aspirants after hearing their appeals, while rejecting the appeals filed by 29 others in the February-12 national election. The full Election Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, also dismissed five appeals filed against five valid candidates, upholding the validity of their nominations for the 13th parliamentary election. Besides, the EC, functioning as the Electoral Appeal Tribunal, kept 10 appeal petitions pending for further hearing and disposal. The Commission began hearing and disposing of appeal petitions last Saturday, filed by aggrieved candidates and organisations challenging the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers by returning officers during scrutiny. The EC is scheduled to hear a total of 645 appeals by January 18. With the restoration of 60 candidates on Thursday, the total number of previously rejected aspirants who have regained their candidacy now stands at 335, while 107 invalid candidates have so far failed to return to the race. On Thursday, the EC kept pending the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami aspirant Mahbubul Alam for Kurigram-3, which is set to be settled on January 17, while reinstating the candidacy of Jamaat aspirant Masum Mostafa for Netrakona-5. The Commission rejected the petition filed by Jamaat candidate Masud Sayedi of Pirojpur-1 against the validity of BNP candidate Alamgir Hossain. It also kept pending the petition filed by Trust Bank against the validity of BNP candidate Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury for Chattogram-4, which will be heard on January 17. The EC upheld the validity of BNP candidate Hummam Quader Chowdhury for Chattogram-7, rejecting an appeal filed by Peoples Leasing and Financial Services Ltd. Similarly, the Commission rejected an appeal filed by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate Omar Faruk, upholding the validity of BNP candidate Jashim Uddin Ahmed for Chattogram-14. Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (a faction) Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud failed to regain his candidacy on appeal for the Chattogram-5 (Hathazari Upazila) constituency. According to the EC, a total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies by the December 29 deadline. After scrutiny, returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723 others.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) has found no evidence of any irregularities in the postal ballots sent to expatriate Bangladeshis abroad reviewing several video clips circulating on social media regarding the distribution of postal ballots. “So far, we’ve received video clips from three locations…. The Commission examined them very seriously, but no evidence of any deviation has been found in those videos,” Sanaullah said. The election commissioner made the remarks while briefing reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Thursday evening. He said some political parties have already expressed reactions over the issue, prompting the Commission to take immediate steps to verify the matter. “To understand the actual situation, we contacted all the relevant embassies today.” Sanaullah said the EC will not make any compromise with the integrity of the postal balloting system. “There will be no leniency for anyone concerning postal ballots,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, BNP raised concerns before the Election Commission over the viral videos related to the distribution of postal ballots sent to expatriates. The Election Commissioner said a total of 767,084 postal ballots were dispatched for the expatriate voters. Of them, 707,500 ballots have already reached the destinations in different countries and 59,584 others are on transition. Based on QR code scans, around 140,873 expatriate voters have already received their ballots. He said some ballots have been returned undelivered due to incorrect addresses in foreign lands. So far, 4,521 ballots have been returned, mostly from Malaysia, followed by Italy. Sanaullah said a large number of expatriate voters use shared addresses due to living in limited accommodation without individual mailing addresses, particularly in labour-intensive destinations in the Middle East and Malaysia. Some 171,680 voters used an address shared by two voters, while 95,816 voters used addresses shared by up to five voters, 59,276 voters used addresses shared by up to 10 voters, 38,109 voters used addresses shared by up to 20 voters, 21,915 voters used addresses shared by 20 to 50 voters, 14,891 voters used addresses shared by 100 or more voters, he said.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said strong arrangements must be put in place to ensure that election fraud never happens again in Bangladesh, as he received the report of the National Election Investigation Commission covering the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections. “We had heard about vote rigging. We knew some things. But they shamelessly distorted the entire process, twisted the system, and wrote verdicts on paper according to their own wishes. These findings must be presented to the nation. There needs to be a complete record,” he said after receiving the report at the state guesthouse Jamuna. Prof Yunus said the entire nation had been punished by spending public money to conduct elections that deprived citizens of their voting rights. “The people of this country watched helplessly but could do nothing. Those responsible must be identified so that the people can get some relief. We need to know who did it and how,” he said, adding that measures must be taken to ensure that election robbery never happens again in Bangladesh. The Chief Adviser’s press wing, referring to the report, said between 2014 and 2024 the election system was effectively taken out of the hands of the Election Commission and placed under the control of the administration. During this period, the administration, not the Election Commission, became the dominant force in conducting elections. After submitting the report, members of the Commission discussed various aspects of their investigation. Advisers Dr Asif Nazrul, Adilur Rahman Khan, Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki were present, along with Commission Chairman Justice Shamim Hasnain and members Shamim Al Mamun, Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Supan, Barrister Tazrian Akram Hossain and Dr Md Abdul Alim. The Commission said the uncontested elections in 153 constituencies and the so-called “contests” in the remaining 147 seats in 2014 were fully orchestrated and carefully planned and the arrangement was actually designed to keep the Awami League in power. The report said that because the 2014 elections were widely criticized internationally as uncontested, the Awami League-led government under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought to present the 2018 elections as competitive. BNP and other opposition parties, however, failed to grasp the long-term strategy and participated in the polls. The Commission estimated that in the 2018 elections, ballot papers were sealed the night before voting at nearly 80 percent of polling centers, ensuring the Awami League’s victory. It also found that competition within the administration to secure wins for the Awami League led to voting rates exceeding 100 percent in some centers. For the 2024 elections, when opposition parties including BNP boycotted the polls, the Commission said a tactic of creating a façade of competition by fielding ‘dummy’ candidates was adopted. The report claimed that the strategies for all three elections were formulated at the highest levels of the state and implemented using sections of the administration, police, Election Commission and intelligence agencies as instruments of the state.

Ahead of the 13th National Parliament Election, 459 out of 923 polling stations in six constituencies of Sirajganj district have been identified as risky. Of these, 178 polling stations have been classified as highly risky, while 281 have been marked as risky, according to the Special Branch of the Superintendent of Police (SP) office. The SP office said strict security measures, including enhanced surveillance, are already in place at these polling centres. Sources said the remaining 464 polling stations have been listed as general centres. Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santu said polling centres located in char and remote areas of the district have been inspected in phases. On Saturday, polling stations in the char areas of Chauhali upazila were inspected throughout the day. In addition, officers-in-charge of police circles and police stations are inspecting polling centres within their respective jurisdictions. Initiatives have also been taken to install CCTV cameras at polling stations to strengthen security, he added. Meanwhile, the district administration is intensifying its voter awareness campaign ahead of the election. At district, upazila, union, and ward levels, information offices, upazila administrations, local government departments, and non-governmental organizations are holding courtyard meetings, exchange meetings, and documentary screenings. Exchange meetings are also being organized with imams and khatibs of mosques. Upazila Nirbahi Officers are supervising these activities, while 17 executive magistrates have been deployed to enforce the election code of conduct and conduct mobile court operations. Six additional deputy commissioners, including the deputy director of the Local Government Department, have been appointed to receive complaints related to the overall election situation. Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Aminul Islam said directions are being issued regularly to district- and upazila-level officials through Zoom meetings and video conferences to review the progress of the election campaign. He added that CCTV cameras will be monitored round the clock at polling stations on election day. He further said all necessary security measures, including strict vigilance, are being taken at polling centers in char areas. There are a total of 923 polling stations in six constituencies in Sirajganj district, with 26,86,858 registered voters. The district administration has already taken comprehensive measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.