"BNP wants to foil elections through committing killings after failing in anti-government movement," he said while joining the polls campaign at the Chaprashirhat Bazar in Kabirhat uapzila at his own Noakhali-5 constituency this noon. "Mostaq -Zia had committed massacre in 1975...they had assassinated four national leaders in jail", said Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister. Even Tareque Zia and Khaleda Zia had perpetrated August 21 grenade attack for killing Sheikh Hasina, he said. Calling on the ruling party leaders and activists to become alert, he said, "Tareque is now indulged in conspiracy to assassinate a candidate or an eminent leader from London". "You (leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League) will resist it", Quader added. Recalling the situation of 1971, the ruling party leader said the people of the country had not got frightened in 1971. "Whatever impediment comes, the people would not be afraid this time as well," he continued. "We will take any suggestions from the foreign countries, but we will never accept those who will try to hamper our elections", said the minister, adding none have the capacity to hamper the next polls. Quader also said what Israel is doing in Gaza of Palestine; BNP is doing the same thing in the country now. "We don't scare people with arms ...people are our weapons", he said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already unveiled the election manifesto that demonstrates what would be done for the development of the country if the Awami League is voted to power again, the AL general secretary said. Zilla Parishad Chairman Abdul Wadud Pinto, Kabirhat Upazila AL President Hazi Md. Ibrahim, and Kabirhat Municipality Mayor Zahirul Huq Raihan, among others, were present. Source: BSS  

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today (Dec 30) vowed that the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections must be free and fair at any cost. "The elections to the next 12th Jatiya Sangsad must be fair at any cost. . . and the Election Commission (EC) is working relentlessly for this purpose," the CEC told a view-exchange-meeting with law enforcers and local administration at Shilpakala Academy here. "The election commission is firm to hold this election in a free, fair and impartial manner . . . We have already got all necessary manpower support as per the requirement from the government to ensure fair polls," Habibul Awal categorically said. He said the EC is working sincerely right now to ensure all candidates' equal opportunities in the election race. The polls process is progressing continuously with the cooperation of the government and the utmost sincerity of the officials of field administration as well, the CEC added. Earlier, the CEC exchanged views with the candidates of six constituencies of the district at Sylhet Circuit House at 10 am. Among others, Additional Divisional Commissioner Md. Jasim Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sheikh Russel Ahmed and senior officials concerned were also present.  

Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the countrymen will give a befitting reply with votes to the local and foreign conspiracies being hatched to bring third party to power to disrupt January 7 election. However, she said the countrymen will give a befitting reply to those conspirators through votes on the January 7 election.   "Various conspiracies are being hatched to foil the polls. Many are also involved internationally. They are working to bring a third party to power in Bangladesh. We will give a befitting reply to them through the January 7 election," she said while addressing a grand election rally at Govt Sheikh Mujibur Rahman College ground at Tungipara this morning. "What can the third party do? They can't do any development of the country. You had witnessed what they did in 2007," she said. "We will take part in the January 7 election with our party's electoral symbol 'boat'. Go early to the polling centres to cast your votes to show the world that we can hold the election in a free, fair and neutral manner," she added.

Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that politics of Awami League is just for the welfare of people, but BNP-Jamaat's politics is to burn people. "Their (BNP-Jamaat's) politics is to burn people. Do the people want them? Tell me. No, people don't want them," she said while addressing an election rally at the historic Bangabandhu Udyan in the divisional headquarters. The AL chief condemned severely the acts of BNP-Jamaat for killing and burning people, and said: "When we develop the country for the people, at that time BNP- Jamaat unleashed arson attacks."   She reiterate her call to the country's people, especially the new voters, to vote for her party to continue the unstoppable progress of Bangladesh, saying the new voters certainly don't want their votes to go in vein. "Awami League believes in the power of the youths. Those who are new voters and will exercise their franchise for the first time, I would request them to cast their votes for boat (election symbol) to ensure the victory of Awami League," she added. Sheikh Hasina said that BNP-Jamaat has no right to do politics in Bangladesh as they burn people and kill people while people do not want this kind of destructive activities anymore. "BNP is a terrorist party, this terrorist party has no right to do politics in Bangladesh, because they burn people, kill people," she added. Bangabandhu's younger daughter and Sheikh Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on dais like the formal election campaign rally that began on December 20 from Sylhet, and other election rally at Taraganj, Mithapukur and Pirganj upazila in Rangpur districts on December 26. Source: BSS

The election to Naogaon-2 constituency (Patnitala and Dhamoirhat) has been postponed after the death of an independent candidate. As a result, the 12th parliamentary polls will be held in 299 seats on January 7. The returning officer concerned took the decision and a new schedule for the constituency will be announced later, Ashok Kumar Debnath, additional secretary of the Election Commission (EC) told on friday (Dec 29). Earlier, Aminul Haque, an independent candidate of Naogaon-2 constituency died early Friday while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in the capital Dhaka. He first bought Awami League's nomination for the seat to contest in the national election but did not get the ruling party ticket. Later, he submitted nomination form to compete in the polls as an independent candidate but the EC cancelled his candidacy citing different inconsistencies. Subsequently, he filed a writ petition in the High Court to get back his candidacy and the HC declared his candidacy valid on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was allocated the Eagle, an electoral symbol, from the office of Naogaon deputy commissioner and returning officer. But a day after, he died.