The Election Commission yesterday announced a draft voter list with an enrolment of 79.83 lakh new voters, who will become eligible to cast their votes in the next parliamentary elections for the first time.

Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu yesterday asked the finance minister, in parliament, if the news reports over Bangladeshis owning properties abroad were true.

Alleging that BNP is hatching a conspiracy to assume power in an unconstitutional way, leaders of the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance yesterday said they will not allow this to happen in any way.

Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, Iftekharuzzaman, has said that keeping Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman – sentenced by the court – in BNP’s top leadership “contradicts” the party’s 27-point outline for state reform, which includes a stance against corruption, and is a sign of “moral decay”.

Opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque Chunnu today in parliament asked the finance minister whether the news published in media -- on assets of Bangladeshis abroad, including MPs -- is true or not.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka this morning.

The Awami League has become its worst enemy because of rampant infighting at its grassroots, said leaders of the ruling party yesterday.

Following the directives of Awami League high-ups, three local party leaders, who were running in the by-polls to Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj) as independents, yesterday withdrew from the race.

BNP yesterday said it is “not in the mood” to respond to Awami League’s lies.

Khan Asaduzzman Masum and Jahangir Alam Nannu were elected president and general secretary respectively of Bangladesh Jubo Union central committee.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today expressed his firm belief that the government will be brought down through a peaceful movement, no matter how repressive its tactics to survive become.

Prime Minister and President of ruling Awami League Sheikh Hasina today firmly said her party always keeps the election pledges made ahead of any national election.

The BNP wants to make a final push to realise its demand for holding the next general election under a neutral caretaker administration only after the top brass finds the party’s Dhaka city units fully prepared for an all-out movement.

Information Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud yesterday said BNP had carried out grenade attacks on Awami League rallies but the AL government is now ensuring security to BNP programmes.

Noting that Chattogram is the heartbeat of the country’s economy, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the port city will become “one city with two towns” after completion of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, being constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River.

BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu today warned that their party will take to the streets together with people if the government does not cancel its decision to hike power price.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today alleged that the government, fearing the pro-democracy movement, has become "desperate" to suppress the opposition leaders and activists.

Awami League will remain cautious about BNP's movement and stay on the streets to protect people's lives and property, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

The Awami League yesterday called upon the BNP to drop the demand for a polls-time caretaker government and reiterated that Sheikh Hasina will remain the prime minister during the election.

The BNP will hold rallies and demonstrate across the country on January 16 to  drum up support for its 10-point demand and to protest the government move to hike power price.