Voters’ turnout 80pc in 11th nat’l polls

No chance of fresh election, says CEC

Oikyafront to submit memo to EC Jan 3 seeking reelection

Rejecting Jatiya Oikyafront's demand for re-election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)KM Nurul Huda yesterday said there is no such scope. “There will be no fresh election. There is simply no scope for it,” said the CEC. About alleged stuffing ballot boxes overnight, KM Nurul Huda said: “It is completely untrue.” “I am fully satisfied with the election. The other commissioners are satisfied as well,” he added. "The election was credible according to reports of the media, and local and foreign observers. Till now, we haven't received any written complaint of irregularities," KM Nurul Huda said while briefing media at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

The CEC also said that the 11th parliamentary polls has seen a voter turnout of about 80 per cent, registering a major high among all general elections held so far.

He said at a press conference held at the Nirbachan Bhaban that the  polls were held peacefully amid much enthusiasm among common people.

“All media outlets have indicated that the whole nation was bubbling with the mood of an election festival. Even the foreign media held that view,” he added.

The CEC also said the commission regrets the loss of 14 lives in electoral violence. About the gazette of the election results, the CEC said it would be published within three to four days after getting every bit of information from the returning officers.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Oikyafront has decided to submit a memorandum to the Election Commission on January 3 demanding reelection under a nonparty caretaker government cancelling Sunday's general election.

"Oikyafront along with its candidates will submit a memorandum to the Election Commission and announce programmes demanding reelection cancelling Sunday's election," alliance leader Dr Kamal Hossain said while talking to reporters in front of his Motijheel chamber after a meeting of its leaders yesterday.

"Rejecting the so-called results with hatred considering the overall situation, Oikyafront is demanding reelection under a nonparty caretaker government," he said.

Earlier in the day, Election Commission  Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said the 11th general election held under a political government will remain as a bright example in the history democracy, adds UNB.

“The voting in the parliamentary elections was held in a very free, fair and peaceful environment under a political government, this election will remain as a bright example,” he told reports at Nirbachan Bhaban.

Various local and foreign observers have expressed their satisfaction over the voting, Helaluddin Ahmed said adding that the Election Commission is also happy over the election.

“For the first time, we used Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in six constituencies on experimental basis. There was a huge curiosity and big anxiety over the use of these machines,” he said.

“We’ve been able to use the EVM successfully. We’ll use this technology in the upcoming elections. We got the results of the constituencies a bit late as those were brought from remote areas,” he said.

He also thanked the other political parties for cooperating with the EC in holding the election successfully.

A total of 39 political parties contested the polls for 299 seats. The election to one seat, Gaibandha-3, will be held on January 27, 2019, as one of the candidates died before the polls.

The EC has announced the results in 298 seats. The Awami League (AL) has won 259 seats, Jatiya Party (Ershad) 20, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) five, Gonoforum two, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh two, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) two, Workers Party three, Tarikat Federation one, Jatiya Party (Monju) one and independent candidates three.

The result of Brahmanbaria-3 was withheld due to anomalies and irregularities in three centres of the constituency. The final result would be announced after holding fresh polls at those centres.

The 10th parliamentary election held in 2014 had witnessed 40.04 per cent voter turnout, when the BNP and some other parties had boycotted the polls. In that election, the AL won 234 seats, while the opposition JP secured 34 seats. The contesting parties were 12.

In the ninth general election held in 2008, the turnout of voters was 87.13 per cent. In that election, the AL won 230 seats, while the BNP and JP (Ershad) won 30 and 27 seats, respectively. The contesting parties were 38.

The eighth general election held in 2001 had a voter turnout of 75.59 per cent and the contesting political parties were 54. The BNP won 195 seats, the AL 58 seats and the JP (Ershad) 14 seats.

The seventh general election held in 1996 witnessed a voter turnout of 74.96 per cent and the contesting parties were 81. The AL secured 146 seats, BNP 116 seats and JP (Ershad) 32 seats.

The sixth general election held in 1996 had a voter turnout of 20.97 per cent and the contesting parties were 43. Most of the political parties, including the AL, had boycotted the poll. The BNP won 278 seats. Freedom Party one seat, and independent candidates 10 seats.

In the fifth general election held in 1991, the turnout of voters was 55.45 per cent and the contesting parties were 75. The BNP had won 140 seats, the AL 88 seats, the JP (Ershad)  35 seats and the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh 18 seats.

In the fourth parliamentary election held in 1988, the turnout of voters was 57.90 per cent. The Jatiya Party won 251 seats. Other major parties like the AL and the BNP had boycotted the polls held under JP president HM Ershad.

In the third general election held in 1986, the voter turnout was 61.07 per cent. The BNP had boycotted the elections. The JP (Ershad) won 153 seats, the AL 76 seats and the Jamaat-E-Islami Bangladesh 10 seats.

The second general election held in 1979 had a voter turnout of 50.94 per cent and the contesting parties were 29. The BNP won 207 seats, the AL 39 seats, the Bangladesh Muslim League-Islamic Democratic League 20 seats and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal eight seats.

In the first general election held in 1973, the turnout of voters was 54.91 per cent and the contesting parties were 14. The AL had won 293 seats, the National Awami Party (NAP-Bhashani) won one seat, the Bangladesh Jatiya League one seat, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal one seat and independents five seats.

The current Parliament’s five-year term expires on January 28. Within this time the Awami League government will take its oath for the third consecutive time.

Voters turnout 80pc in 11th natl polls

No chance of fresh election, says CEC

Oikyafront to submit memo to EC Jan 3 seeking reelection

Rejecting Jatiya Oikyafronts demand for re-election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)KM Nurul Huda yesterday said there is no such scope. There will be no fresh election. There is simply no scope for it, said the CEC. About alleged stuffing ballot boxes overnight, KM Nurul Huda said: It is completely untrue. I am fully satisfied with the election. The other commissioners are satisfied as well, he added. The election was credible according to reports of the media, and local and foreign observers. Till now, we havent received any written complaint of irregularities, KM Nurul Huda said while briefing media at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The CEC also said that the 11th parliamentary polls has seen a voter turnout of about 80 per cent, registering a major high among all general elections held so far. He said at a press conference held at the Nirbachan Bhaban that the polls were held peacefully amid much enthusiasm among common people. All media outlets have indicated that the whole nation was bubbling with the mood of an election festival. Even the foreign media held that view, he added. The CEC also said the commission regrets the loss of 14 lives in electoral violence. About the gazette of the election results, the CEC said it would be published within three to four days after getting every bit of information from the returning officers. Meanwhile, Jatiya Oikyafront has decided to submit a memorandum to the Election Commission on January 3 demanding reelection under a nonparty caretaker government cancelling Sundays general election. Oikyafront along with its candidates will submit a memorandum to the Election Commission and announce programmes demanding reelection cancelling Sundays election, alliance leader Dr Kamal Hossain said while talking to reporters in front of his Motijheel chamber after a meeting of its leaders yesterday. Rejecting the so-called results with hatred considering the overall situation, Oikyafront is demanding reelection under a nonparty caretaker government, he said. Earlier in the day, Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said the 11th general election held under a political government will remain as a bright example in the history democracy, adds UNB. The voting in the parliamentary elections was held in a very free, fair and peaceful environment under a political government, this election will remain as a bright example, he told reports at Nirbachan Bhaban. Various local and foreign observers have expressed their satisfaction over the voting, Helaluddin Ahmed said adding that the Election Commission is also happy over the election. For the first time, we used Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in six constituencies on experimental basis. There was a huge curiosity and big anxiety over the use of these machines, he said. Weve been able to use the EVM successfully. Well use this technology in the upcoming elections. We got the results of the constituencies a bit late as those were brought from remote areas, he said. He also thanked the other political parties for cooperating with the EC in holding the election successfully. A total of 39 political parties contested the polls for 299 seats. The election to one seat, Gaibandha-3, will be held on January 27, 2019, as one of the candidates died before the polls. The EC has announced the results in 298 seats. The Awami League (AL) has won 259 seats, Jatiya Party (Ershad) 20, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) five, Gonoforum two, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh two, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) two, Workers Party three, Tarikat Federation one, Jatiya Party (Monju) one and independent candidates three. The result of Brahmanbaria-3 was withheld due to anomalies and irregularities in three centres of the constituency. The final result would be announced after holding fresh polls at those centres. The 10th parliamentary election held in 2014 had witnessed 40.04 per cent voter turnout, when the BNP and some other parties had boycotted the polls. In that election, the AL won 234 seats, while the opposition JP secured 34 seats. The contesting parties were 12. In the ninth general election held in 2008, the turnout of voters was 87.13 per cent. In that election, the AL won 230 seats, while the BNP and JP (Ershad) won 30 and 27 seats, respectively. The contesting parties were 38. The eighth general election held in 2001 had a voter turnout of 75.59 per cent and the contesting political parties were 54. The BNP won 195 seats, the AL 58 seats and the JP (Ershad) 14 seats. The seventh general election held in 1996 witnessed a voter turnout of 74.96 per cent and the contesting parties were 81. The AL secured 146 seats, BNP 116 seats and JP (Ershad) 32 seats. The sixth general election held in 1996 had a voter turnout of 20.97 per cent and the contesting parties were 43. Most of the political parties, including the AL, had boycotted the poll. The BNP won 278 seats. Freedom Party one seat, and independent candidates 10 seats. In the fifth general election held in 1991, the turnout of voters was 55.45 per cent and the contesting parties were 75. The BNP had won 140 seats, the AL 88 seats, the JP (Ershad) 35 seats and the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh 18 seats. In the fourth parliamentary election held in 1988, the turnout of voters was 57.90 per cent. The Jatiya Party won 251 seats. Other major parties like the AL and the BNP had boycotted the polls held under JP president HM Ershad. In the third general election held in 1986, the voter turnout was 61.07 per cent. The BNP had boycotted the elections. The JP (Ershad) won 153 seats, the AL 76 seats and the Jamaat-E-Islami Bangladesh 10 seats. The second general election held in 1979 had a voter turnout of 50.94 per cent and the contesting parties were 29. The BNP won 207 seats, the AL 39 seats, the Bangladesh Muslim League-Islamic Democratic League 20 seats and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal eight seats. In the first general election held in 1973, the turnout of voters was 54.91 per cent and the contesting parties were 14. The AL had won 293 seats, the National Awami Party (NAP-Bhashani) won one seat, the Bangladesh Jatiya League one seat, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal one seat and independents five seats. The current Parliaments five-year term expires on January 28. Within this time the Awami League government will take its oath for the third consecutive time.