The Daily Star has launched a new series of talk show ‘The Election Talks 2018’ where experts are analysing all aspects of the upcoming general elections, contemporary politics, events and incidents.

In today’s episode of ‘The Election Talks 2018’, Sharmeen Murshid, chief executive officer of a non-government organisation and local election observer group ‘Brotee’, talks with The Daily Star about the upcoming election.

She sheds light on the inclusion process of election observers for the 11th national polls on a one-to-one with Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.

While listing the election observers this time, the election commission has excluded many experienced observes while many election observer groups were included who are not known to us, she said.

Mentioning that the scope of observing the election is getting reduced, she said, "This shrunken scope has raised questions in our minds."

As an example, she said that during the 2008 elections, number of total international election observers were 593 and local observers were 1,00,059 from 75 organisations. But this time there are only 25 to 26 thousand local observers and under 100 international observers, according to election commission data.   

Watch the video to know more!

Jatiya Oikyafront’s key leader Dr Kamal Hossain has condemned the attack launched on him.

“It is an insult to the martyrs,” Dr Kamal said at a press conference today pointing out that the attack was carried out near Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur.

Kamal, Gono Forum president, called upon the Election Commission to create a level-playing field to hold the upcoming election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

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Motorcade of Dr Kamal attacked

He blamed supporters of Awami League candidate Aslamul Haque Aslam, launched the attack on him leaving 25 to 30 of his followers and leaders injured.

At the press conference in Paltan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob said: “The attack would not have happened if the military was on the field now.”

Nagori Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna blasted the EC for its partisan role against the Oikyafront and said it has already gone in the government’s pocket.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said the Election Commissioners should step down from the constitutional body shouldering responsibility of the attack.

BNP candidates of Dhaka-4 and Dhaka-19 constituencies are fearing further attacks on their campaigns and activists.

They both complained of inaction from the authorities despite repeated complaints, they claimed at separate press conferences today.

Dhaka-4 candidate Alhaj Salauddin Ahmed held a press conference in his Shyampur residence, alleging of police threats to his supporters.

Expressing fear for his life and family, he alleged law enforcers are continuing drives to arrest and harass the opposition leaders and activists.

“Several times I have lodged complaints to the Election Commission in this regard but did not get any response,” he said.

Dhaka-19 candidate Dr Dewan Mohammad Salauddin Babu alleged police, with help of ruling Awami League activists, are carrying out mass arrests of BNP activists.

He claimed arrests of at least 19 top BNP activists in the locality and attack and vandalism of BNP’s campaign offices in the area.

Fearing further vandalism, he said he has halted the election campaign for a few days. He too alleged of authorities’ inaction despite repeated complaints.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's petitions seeking the Supreme Court's permission to contest the December 30 polls may not be heard before the election, as the court, which is now on annual vacation, will reopen on January 2.

Besides, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division is scheduled to sit on the bench to deal with urgent cases on December 31.

In such a situation, lawyers cannot move Khaleda's three petitions before the SC until Election Day. As a result, the BNP chief cannot run for the polls, Khaleda's lawyers told The Daily Star yesterday, seeking anonymity.

Khaleda will not be benefited if the petitions are moved before the SC after the election, one of the three lawyers said.

As the SC is yet to hear Khaleda's petitions that seek stay on the High Court orders, the HC orders disqualifying her for contesting the polls are now in force, he added.

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, principal lawyer for Khaleda's case, refused to make any comment regarding this when The Daily Star contacted him over phone.

On Monday, Khaleda filed the three petitions to the SC seeking a stay on the HC orders on her nomination papers' cancellations.

In the petitions, Khaleda prayed to the apex court to direct the Election Commission to accept her nomination papers, to allow her to contest the December 30 polls, and to allocate the “sheaf of paddy” as her election symbol.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan passed the order saying if a person was convicted and sentenced to more than two years in prison for moral turpitude, they were not eligible to participate in polls for five years after serving jail term.

On December 11, the HC bench of Justice Refaat and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton passed split orders on the three petitions. The next day, the chief justice assigned the bench of Justice Hassan to dispose them.

Khaleda was sent to jail on February 8 after a special court in Dhaka sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. On October 29, she was sentenced in another corruption case, bringing her total jail term up to 10 years.