The ruling Awami League yesterday questioned the Election Commission’s decision to postpone the by-elections to Gaibandha-5 while its archrival the BNP said the decision proved that no free and credible election is possible under a partisan government.

Days after BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi sharply criticized eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal, another top BNP leader publicly threatened to “overthrow” the government.

In a move not seen in recent times, the Election Commission stopped the Gaibandha-5 by-polls, saying the situation went “out of control” due to widespread electoral irregularities.

The ruling Awami League was unhappy and frustrated with the Election Commission for stopping the by-elections to Gaibandha-5 yesterday.

Alleging that the Awami League government has turned the country into a crematorium, the BNP has said there is no alternative to ending its rule.

Former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday welcomed the Election Commission’s prompt action to suspend the by-polls to Gaibandha-5 amid allegations of irregularities.

"If there were no EVMs, I would have ‘collected’ votes at night. You [people] go to the polling station and vote with your fingerprints. If you can't, I will put people there to press the EVM button.”

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (October 12, 2022) while criticising the Election Commission’s meeting with deputy commissioner and superintendents of police said, “The DCs and SPs are not listening to EC. They (DCs and SPs) are listening to Sheikh Hasina’s direction which indicates that free and fair election is not possible under the government without a caretaker government.”

BNP leaders alleged that police both in uniforms and plainclothes conducted raids at houses of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations in Chattogram last night (October 11, 2022).

BNP leaders and activists today alleged that Chhatra league and Jubo League men barred BNP leaders and activists from joining the rally in Chattogram and also vandalised their vehicles.

The BNP is set to hold its first divisional meeting in Chattogram city today amid warning from the local Awami League that it would resist any violence in the name of political programmes.

The Election Commission is going to hold the by-election to the Gaibandha-5 constituency today using electronic voting machines amid confusion among many voters about how to use the devices.

Taking a swipe at the government for frequent power outages across the country, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader today (October 11, 2022) feared that the country was heading towards bankruptcy.

The government is going to give the job of issuing national identity (NID) cards to the home ministry, taking it away from the Election Commission which has been doing it since 2006.

At least 20 people, including four policemen, were injured during a clash between BNP men and police in Gazipur city this (October 10, 2022) afternoon.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said the government may have to send BNP leader Khaleda Zia back to jail unless her party leaders stop dreaming about grabbing power.

Mass arrests and police raids of opposition party members’ homes raise serious concerns about violence and intimidation ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Bangladesh due next year, Human Rights Watch said today (October 10, 2022).

Law Minister Anisul Huq today (October 10, 2022) said there is no scope for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to contest the next parliamentary election under relevant laws as she has been convicted and sentenced in two separate corruption cases.

Seven leaders and activists, including the vice-president and joint general secretary of Jhenaidah district Chhatra League, have been suspended after three party men were killed in a road accident while trying to escape an attack by another faction on October 7, 2022.

Aftab Uddin, 50, former general secretary of Ward No 1 Awami League, was killed in a clash between two groups of Awami League over establishing supremacy in the area in Natore's Singra yesterday (October 9, 2022).