The next Election Commission will have to be formed through the enactment of a law in line with the constitution and not through a search committee, said Jatiya Party (Manju) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju during dialogue with President Abdul Hamid today.

Jatiya Party today instructed its leaders and activists to not extend any direct or indirect support to any candidate in the Narayanganj City Corporation election.

Although the atmosphere surrounding the Narayanganj city polls is still peaceful, locals believe candidates will face a big challenge maintaining it as internal conflicts between parties and leaders have started coming to light.

While participating in the dialogue with President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban, Krishak Sramik Janata League today opposed the formation of a Search Committee for constituting the next election commission.

Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) today boycotted dialogue with President Abdul Hamid terming it “meaningless and a waste of time”.

President Abdul Hamid today invited Awami League for dialogue over the formation of the next Election Commission at Bangabhaban on January 17.

Polling officials made a mess of counting ballots at a voting centre in Shariatpur’s Naria upazila during the fifth phase of the union parishad polls on Wednesday, raising questions about the credibility of the election results.

With just one week left for the Narayanganj City Corporation election, the political equations for the two major mayor contenders remain unclear.

Another political party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), today rejected President Abdul Hamid’s invitation to hold dialogue on formation of the next election commission.

Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda and Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar have once again traded barbs in public.

Awami League mayor nominee Selina Hayat Ivy in her re-election campaign is highlighting her development activities while her main rival, independent runner and BNP leader Taimur Alam Khandakar, is trying to cash in on the anti-government sentiment by mobilising support from all opposition parties.

Independents winning the post of union parishad chairman have outnumbered those who won with an Awami League nomination.

A defeated member candidate of Noapara union parishad was beaten to death allegedly by another defeated member candidate in Shariatpur’s Naria today.

Independent chairman candidates won 50 percent of seats while Awami League nominated candidates won 49.27 percent of seats in the fifth phase of the union parishad elections held yesterday

While holding dialogue with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban, Gono Front today recommended five names for the next election commission, including former chief justice Fazlul Karim Chowdhury as the chief election commissioner.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda today said that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder is a liar who speaks with an agenda.

At least 10 people were killed in the fifth phase of the union parishad polls yesterday as the voting was marred by violence in several districts.

The streets were still quite empty and the sun was up trying to chase away the winter chill. Some friends, all in their 60s, were sipping tea at the Bose Cabin in Narayanganj city.

Crime and violence have become an integral part of the Union Parishad elections, said Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder in a statement to the media.

At least four persons were killed in police firing today after the on-duty magistrate and law enforcers came under attack following the fifth phase of union parishad election in Bogura's Gabtali upazila.