Condemning violence in Bangladesh, the United Nations has urged all sides to show restraint and ensure a peaceful post electoral environment in the country.

The USA and the European Union have also denounced violence over the just concluded parliamentary elections, and called for addressing all electoral complaints in a peaceful manner.

Welcoming the participation of all major political parties in the general election for the first time in 10 years, they said it was a positive development which reflected aspirations of people for democracy.

The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a statement on Monday said, “The United Nations is aware of violent incidents and reports of irregularities in the Bangladesh general election.”

The UN regretted the loss of life and injuries sustained by candidates and voters during the electoral campaign and on the voting day, it said.

US STATEMENT

The US in a statement yesterday commended the Bangladeshis who voted in the election as well as the decision of all major opposition parties to participate.

“The United States remains deeply invested in the future of Bangladesh and its democratic development. The United States is Bangladesh's largest foreign investor, largest single-country market for Bangladeshi exports, and home to a large community of Americans of Bangladeshi origin,” said Robert Palladino, deputy spokesperson of the US state department.

However, it expressed concern over reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence in the pre-election period saying that those incidents made it difficult for many opposition candidates and their supporters to meet, hold rallies, and campaign freely. “We are also concerned that election-day irregularities prevented some people from voting, which undermined faith in the electoral process.”

He said his country strongly encourages all parties to refrain from violence and request the EC to work constructively with all sides to address claims of irregularities.

“Bangladesh's impressive record of economic development and respect for democracy and human rights are mutually reinforcing, and we look forward to continue working with the ruling government and opposition towards advancing these interrelated goals,” reads the statement.

EU STATEMENT

The EU said the mobilisation of voters and the participation of the opposition in the polls reflected the people's aspirations for democracy.

“However, violence has marred the election day, and significant obstacles to a level playing field remained in place throughout the process and have tainted the electoral campaign and the vote,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement yesterday.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the EU, in his statement said the relevant authorities should now ensure a proper examination of allegations of irregularities and commit to full transparency in their resolution.

The Awami League-led Grand Alliance will win the upcoming general election with a two-third majority, the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.

The ruling party leader and contesting for Noakhali-5 constituency said this during an electioneering programme at Bashurhat HSC Govt High School ground in Companiganj upazila this noon.

“Sheikh Hasina is being praised by the entire world today. The mass public support generated in favour of ‘boat’ symbol from Sunamganj to the Sundarbans and from Tentulia to Kutubdia, it is apparent that the Grand Alliance, led by Sheikh Hasina, will defeat the evil, communal forces and win the December 30 polls with a two-third majority,” Quader said.

Expressing concern that the “evil, communal forces” may launch attacks at the polling centres, he said they would have to be resisted from the beginning of voting till the end of vote counting on the polls day.

“Oikyafront will try different tricks and instigations to thwart the polls. Beware of their trap and work on for the next three days for holding the election with patience,” Quader called upon the leaders and activists of his party.

Mentioning that Sheikh Hasina has given respect to the women, he said “Women have risen in support of Awami League. Youths have raised their voice in digital Bangladesh.”

“Women and youth will be the driving force for the victory of Awami League,” Quader added.

The Election Commission’s activities will determine whether BNP and its alliance will stay in the election race till the end, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

“The activities of the EC have been biased so far. If the commission wants, it can still create the atmosphere of a fair polls,” he told reporters in front of his Uttara residence this morning. The BNP leader was heading to Bogura and Rangpur for electioneering.

The BNP secretary general said, “The election has become questionable. The role of the EC and law enforcing agencies is not satisfactory at all.”

“BNP and its alliance partners had hoped that after army deployment the overall atmosphere would be improved and the election atmosphere would return but that has not happened,” Fakhrul said.

“The way violence is being carried out, opposition campaigns are being barred, which is not at all congenial for a fair election,” he alleged.

The newly elected parliament members will be sworn in tomorrow and the new cabinet may take oath on Sunday.

A number of ministers informed this to journalists yesterday. 

Talking to reporters during a dialogue with Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the newly elected MPs would be sworn in tomorrow. 

VIEW THE ELECTION DETAILS HERE

The government would formally announce the date, he said at the media centre of his secretariat office. 

The gazette on the MPs-elect was published yesterday.

The minister also said the Jatiya Party would be the main opposition in parliament. “The party can also take part in the new government if the prime minister offers them and they accept it.”

Inu said the Awami League-led Grand Alliance is the people's alliance and it has won the national election by a huge margin as it has tried to work for the people.

About the rejection of polls results by the BNP, Inu said the party did so as “part of its conspiracy”.

Seeking anonymity, a senior AL minister told The Daily Star that the new cabinet would be sworn in on Sunday.

However, AL General Secretary Obaidul Qauder yesterday said the process to form the new government was likely to be completed by January 10.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city's Dhanmondi.

“After the oath-taking of the new MPs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet the president. The president will then request the prime minister to form the government.”

Asked about the Jatiya Oikyafront's decision not to take oath, Quader said, “The Election Commission will deal with the issue. Everything will be done according to the constitution. If any candidate fails to take oath, the Election Commission will take necessary steps in line with the constitution. A new schedule will be announced for holding a by-election in that constituency.”

The minister said he still believed the Oikyafront, led by the BNP, would not “disobey the people's verdict”.

“Earlier, they had made a mistake by boycotting the 2014 general election. Whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied [with the polls results], it is their party's matter. But I hope those who have been elected MPs this time will not show disrespect to the people's verdict by not taking oath.”

The minister said many democratic countries have started congratulating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “If they [BNP] do not participate in the democratic process, it will not remain halted.”

Quader urged AL leaders, activists and supporters not to be revengeful to the opposition men and behave with them carefully.

In the December 30 parliamentary, the AL-led Grand Alliance won 288 seats against the BNP-led Oikyafront's seven. 

Three independent candidates also became victorious.

The election in Brahmanbaria-2 was suspended as voting at three polling centres was suspended over violence. Polling in those centres will be held on January 9.

Polls in Gaibanda-3 were rescheduled for January 27 following the death of a candidate.  

International media widely covered yesterday's national election that saw deadly clashes and accusations of vote rigging.

In a news report, the Associated Press said it received more than 50 calls from people across Bangladesh, who identified themselves as opposition supporters.

They complained of intimidation and threats, and being forced to vote in front of ruling party men inside polling booths, it mentioned.

"Hasina's use of the state machinery to subjugate the opposition virtually ensures her electoral victory," Sasha Riser-Kositsky, a South Asia analyst for the New York-based Eurasia Group, told AP.

Minutes before the polls opened, a BBC correspondent saw filled ballot boxes at a polling centre in Chittagong city. The presiding officer declined to comment.

Only the ruling party's polling agents were present there and several other polling centres in the port city.

BBC's South Asia Regional Editor Anbarasan Ethirajan said if the opposition's claims of widespread vote rigging are proved, then it will likely to raise questions over the credibility of the election process and the legitimacy of the new government, according to a BBC report.

The Guardian in its report headlined “Bangladesh opposition reject 'farcical' election and demand new vote”, mentioned that dozens of candidates pulled out, claiming the ruling Awami League rigged the country's first contested election in a decade.

The Election Commission told Reuters that it was investigating allegations of vote rigging coming from across the country.

“Allegations are coming from across the country and those are under investigation,” SM Asaduzzaman, a spokesman for the EC, told the news agency.

The Economic Times of India reported that the voting in a tense election to choose a new government in Bangladesh ended amid allegations of manipulations by ruling party men.

The Times of India highlighted the introduction of EVMs in six parliamentary constituencies for the first time in a general election, a move which received mixed responses from the voters amid reports of glitches at some booths.