Badiul Alam Majumdar

Judging from the May 15 election in Khulna, and the Gazipur city corporation election on June 26, five distinct features of a controlled election have emerged.

Notwithstanding the serious questions raised about the credibility of Khulna and Gazipur city corporation elections, we had in the recent past free and fair elections in Narayanganj, Kumilla and Rangpur cities.

A budget is an accounting of incomes and expenditures for individuals or families. However, it is much more than that for a country. A national budget conveys clear messages for the future direction of the national economy. What messages has the budget placed recently by the finance minister in Parliament conveyed?

Bangladesh is now on the election highway. Aside from the national election, seven city corporation elections are to be held this year.

Now that the Rangpur election is over, some questions come up: How was the election? What message does it convey? What influence, if any, will it have on other upcoming elections?

The Election Commission (EC) held a post-dialogue press briefing on October 26. At the briefing, the Chief Election Commissioner said that the commission must conduct elections in accordance with the laws made by the government. His statement, although significant, raises serious concerns.

They also threaten to wage a movement with a one-point demand of the CJ's removal. Any reasonable citizen would be concerned about the way the judgment was unnecessarily politicised.

The EC is not constituted only for holding elections. It is a constitutional body created to perform a host of other functions round the year to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.

On July 16, 2017, the Election Commission (EC) arranged a news conference to announce its electoral roadmap.

Our finance minister has proposed a mega budget of Tk 4,00,266 crore for FY2017-18, of which Tk 1,53,331 crore is earmarked for Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The EC has been under fire after two phases of UP elections were marred by widespread irregularities and violence.

According to the Political Party Registration Rules 2008, registered political parties must submit their audited financial statements to

ALMOSt all the preparatory steps for the first round of UP elections are now over – the only thing that is still left is the actual polling on

Recently, elections were held in 235 Paurashavas around the country. In this first time ever party-based elections, Awami League won 182 mayoral seats..

There are serious allegations of hiding information or disclosing inaccurate information by candidates in their affidavits. It is therefore important for the EC to take the necessary steps in the future to verify the accuracy of the disclosed information.

The cabinet has recently decided in principle to allow the use of party symbols in local elections. This, we are afraid, is a dangerous decision, which could unravel what is left of our democratic system after the much controversial election of January 5, 2014.

On September 25, 2015, world leaders adopted a resolution entitled 'Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development'. The agenda is a “comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative goals and targets” – now referred to as the Global Goals.

On July 7, 2015, ECNEC approved the Rural Insfrastructure-2 project, designed to allocate Tk. 6,076 crore to 284 MPs. Under this project, each MP will be allowed to develop infrastructure projects worth Tk. 20 crore, which will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

A credible electoral roll is a prerequisite for free and fair elections, and the allegation of 1.25 crore fake voters in our electoral roll was

Begum Zia will now have to take on the responsibility of transforming BNP into a truly democratic, secular and dynamic political party. She will have to renounce dynastic politics and empower honest and committed leaders.