Badiul Alam Majumdar

On July 16, 2017, the Election Commission (EC) arranged a news conference to announce its electoral roadmap.

Our finance minister has proposed a mega budget of Tk 4,00,266 crore for FY2017-18, of which Tk 1,53,331 crore is earmarked for Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The EC has been under fire after two phases of UP elections were marred by widespread irregularities and violence.

According to the Political Party Registration Rules 2008, registered political parties must submit their audited financial statements to

ALMOSt all the preparatory steps for the first round of UP elections are now over – the only thing that is still left is the actual polling on

Recently, elections were held in 235 Paurashavas around the country. In this first time ever party-based elections, Awami League won 182 mayoral seats..

There are serious allegations of hiding information or disclosing inaccurate information by candidates in their affidavits. It is therefore important for the EC to take the necessary steps in the future to verify the accuracy of the disclosed information.

The cabinet has recently decided in principle to allow the use of party symbols in local elections. This, we are afraid, is a dangerous decision, which could unravel what is left of our democratic system after the much controversial election of January 5, 2014.

On September 25, 2015, world leaders adopted a resolution entitled 'Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'. The agenda is a “comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative goals and targets” – now referred to as the Global Goals.

On July 7, 2015, ECNEC approved the Rural Insfrastructure-2 project, designed to allocate Tk. 6,076 crore to 284 MPs. Under this project, each MP will be allowed to develop infrastructure projects worth Tk. 20 crore, which will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

A credible electoral roll is a prerequisite for free and fair elections, and the allegation of 1.25 crore fake voters in our electoral roll was

Begum Zia will now have to take on the responsibility of transforming BNP into a truly democratic, secular and dynamic political party. She will have to renounce dynastic politics and empower honest and committed leaders.

The finance minister has presented a 'dream budget' with a proposed outlay of Tk. 2,95,100 crore for FY 2015-16, of which the size of

Thanks to media reports, most voters knew the mayoral candidates and could decide whom they would vote for before getting to the polling booths.

CORRUPTION – the use of public office for private gains – benefits a powerful few while imposing serious costs on large swathes of society.

The cycle of violence that began on January 5 is still continuing. So far over 120 people have died, 66 of them by petrol bomb. Killing