The ruling Awami League is yet to finalise its seat-sharing with electoral allies despite having a series of meetings with several of them yesterday. The ruling party could not reach a consensus with its ally Jatiya Party, a major component of the grand alliance that won a landslide in the 2008 polls, insiders said.

The Election Commission yesterday finally clarified its position on the use of electronic voting machines in the December 30 national election, saying EVMs would be used in all polling centres of six constituencies.

BNP yesterday submitted a list of its 21 arrested leaders and activists to the Election Commission.

Former Kurigram Awami League leader Maj Gen (retd) AMSA Amin joined Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gonoforum yesterday, ahead of the 11th parliamentary election.

The BNP yesterday alleged that “partisan” and “controversial” officials of the police and civil administrations are regularly holding 'clandestine' meetings to ensure Awami League candidates' win in the upcoming general election.

The Election Commission (EC) hoped that observers from different countries would arrive to oversee polls despite the European Union refraining from sending its observers to monitor the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections for what it says is a lengthy process.

For the December 30 election, the BNP will be banking on party nominees of 2001 and 2008 parliamentary polls. Over the last few days, the BNP nomination board has finished interviewing potential candidates and finalised around 250 runners,

Trashing out BNP’s allegation of holding a secret meeting with top civil servants, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed says that false allegation has been brought to keep him under pressure.

Ruling Awami League will announce its election manifesto after the fixation of symbol for next Jatiya Sangsad polls slated for December 30.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance will hold a meeting with the Election Commission tomorrow over the parliamentary election slated for December 30.

The authorities are yet to decide how to dispose of banners, posters and other election campaign materials after those were removed from roadside lamp posts, overbridges and walls in compliance with a directive from the Election Commission.

The last date of filing nomination is just four days away, but the Awami League and the BNP could not finalise their candidates for all 300 seats yet because of disagreements over sharing seats among alliance partners.

Despite strong opposition from the Jatiya Oikyafront, the election commissioners will sit today and decide how and in which places the electronic voting machines will be used.

BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed says the upcoming parliamentary election is the last chance for the party.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleges that the Election Commission and police officials have formed an alliance against BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront.

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) demands the political parties to incorporate planning and development issues of the country in their election manifestoes ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election.

Jatiya Oikyafront has demanded withdrawal of 92 officials of the civil and police administrations, including the secretaries of the Election Commission, home and public administration ministries, for ensuring a level playing field for all candidates in the national election.

The chief election commissioner yesterday said the role of police is most important in holding a free, fair, and acceptable election and the law enforcers must remain alert so that no questions arise over the December 30 polls.

Bangladesh Bank yesterday asked all banks to submit to returning officers the loan statements of the defaulters seeking to contest the December 30 national polls.

At least 32 aspirants want to take on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Bogura-6 and-7 constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary election, scheduled to be held on December 30.