The BNP's official website -- www.bnpbangladesh.com -- was blocked last week as it contained “distasteful” content, said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday evening in an e-mail to the Election Commission.

Jatiya Oikyafront leaders have taken preparations to bring people from neighbouring districts today to their rally in Rajshahi, amid widespread arrests and the ongoing transport strike in Natore.

History says Chattogram division is a bastion of the BNP.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her party wants a free and fair election so that people can pick their leaders to run the country.

With multiple MP hopefuls in each constituency of Khulna division, the Awami League may have to deal with a serious problem of possible rebel candidates, while the BNP is in a better position with fewer MP hopefuls.

History says it has been a swing division since 2001. The first two national polls results, since democracy was restored, show none of the two major parties enjoyed absolute supremacy here.

As the BNP and Juktofront negotiate forging a “greater unity”, disagreements persist over bringing checks and balances if the parties involved assume office.

After a brief pause in the efforts towards “greater unity”, the BNP and other political parties involved will begin to sit from today to give it a concrete shape.

The BNP has informally started the process for a seat sharing deal with Jamaat-e-Islami and other alliance partners, indicating that it would not sever ties with the Islamist party.

BNP demands the reconstitution of the Election Commission as it said the current Commission is not capable of conducting a credible national election.

China yesterday said it wants to see a peaceful transition of power in Bangladesh through a smooth general election.

The Election Commission is going to extend the September 20 deadline for wrapping up talks with political parties.

The issue of having the option of “No” vote in the election has come up again for discussion in the ongoing electoral talks being organised by the Election Commission.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the Awami League needed another term of office to implement mega projects to turn

BNP will participate in the next general elections under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led election-time government, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed says.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir says his party will participate in the next general election if level-playing field is ensured for all parties.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday came down heavily on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for “terming” voters, election officials and

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demands the authorities to immediately arrange a parliamentary election under a nonpartisan government. She also calls for discussions with the government for the sake of democracy.

Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam says the door for dialogue is needed to be kept open for the sake of politics.

On July 26, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said 'a caretaker government is not a must for holding national election, but it has to be held under a neutral government, no matter what its name is'.