Bangladesh

At least 15 people were killed in political violence since the Election Commission announced the poll schedule 36 days ago, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in a report on Monday. Political clashes rose sharply last year, largely owing to BNP’s internal clashes, TIB said, adding the party was involved in 91.7% of the cases.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Monday said “some people” are out to “dishonour” the Islamist party for speaking out against repression of women. In reality, if Jamaat is voted to power in the 12 February elections, the party leaders would hold women in the highest esteem, he said at an election rally held at Baharchhara area of Cox’s Bazar town. ...

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury expressed optimism that the upcoming national elections, scheduled for February 12, would set a benchmark appreciated both nationally and internationally. He urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant so that no mistakes undermine public trust or the country’s image. Speaking as the chief guest at a law and order exchange meeting at ...

Bangladesh and the United States (US) are set to sign a bilateral trade agreement on February 9 in Washington to resolve reciprocal tariff issues, just three days before the national election. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the information on Sunday while speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka. Bangladesh has received a tentative date for signing a ...

A Dhaka court has been sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years’ of imprisonment for misuse of power in securing a 10-katha government plot in Purbachal area. The court also sentenced her three nieces UK MP Tulip Siddiq to four years’ imprisonment and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby to seven years’ separately. Judge Md Rabiul ...

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has said that mafia groups have been frightened by the public support. ”Out of fear, they are tearing down billboards and banners one after another. A desperate attempt is underway to stop the march of the Shaplakoli.” He made these remarks in a Facebook post on Monday. He wrote, ”On Sunday night, a ...

A writ has been filed with the High Court challenging the validity of candidacy of BNP-nominated candidate MA Kaiyum. Nahid Islam, candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance for Dhaka-11 and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), filed the writ on Monday which sought a stay on the candidature of Quayum in the constituency. Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa and Advocate ...

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday underscored the urgency of launching Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union, warning that Bangladesh must act swiftly to preserve preferential access to its largest export destination as existing duty-free facilities approach expiry. The issue was raised during a meeting with Nuria Lopez, chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce in ...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has notified Election Commission (EC) about abnormal voter migration in several parts of the country ahead of 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and Referendum. Election Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon ...

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday expressed optimism that voter turnout in the upcoming parliamentary election would exceed 55 percent, citing political consensus and historical voting patterns. “I believe turnout in this election will be more than 55 percent,” he said, noting that voter participation in the 1991 national election stood at 55 percent. The adviser made the ...