BNP today came down heavily on the Election Commission for hurriedly announcing the schedule for the next parliamentary election and said all have been set to hold a lopsided election.

“An arrangement has been done to hold a lopsided election,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul came up with the reaction hours after the announcement of the national polls schedule.

In his instant reaction, Fakhrul said the government’s desire has been reflected through the announcement of the schedule for the 11th parliamentary election.

Earlier, Fakhrul held an emergency meeting with BNP’s alliance partner at party Chief Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka to devise the next course of the programme in the backdrop of the polls schedule announcement.

Earlier, Fakhrul held an emergency meeting with BNP’s alliance partner at party Chief Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka to devise the next course of programme in the backdrop of the polls schedule announcement.

Coming out of the meeting, Fakhrul said that the countrymen would never accept any election that goes against their hopes and aspirations.

He said a delegation of Jatiya Oikyafront met the chief election commissioner and other commissioners and requested them to defer the polls schedule announcement date but they did not take the call into account.

The schedule for the next general election was announced ignoring people’s hope and expectation, he claimed.

11th parliamentary election schedule

The 11th parliamentary election will be held on December 23, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda announced while addressing the nation this evening.

He announced the schedule for the 11th parliamentary polls in his televised speech amid strong opposition from Jatiya Oikyafront, comprising the BNP and several other parties.

The CEC said the aspirants will have to submit their nomination papers by November 19.

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on November 22, he said adding that the last date for withdrawing candidature is November 29.

Three left-leaning political parties today met the Election Commission (EC) and placed 18-point proposal to hold the 11th parliamentary election in a free, fair and credible manner.

Top leaders of Communist Party Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD)​ and Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party (BBWP) -- met the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda together at his Agargaon office around 11:00 am and submitted the proposal.

After the talks, CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim told the newsmen that they urged the chief election commissioner not to increase the security deposits for candidates in the next general election.

“We came to know that the Election Commission is planning to increase the security deposit for a candidate in the next general election. We met the chief election commissioner and urged him to stay aside from the move,” Selim who was leading the delegation said.

The left-leaning political party leaders also urged the Election Commission to decrease the security deposit of a candidate to Tk 5,000 from the existing amount Tk 20,000, Selim said.

Based on the recommendation of the filed level election officers across the country, the Election Commission is planning to increase the security deposit of a candidate to Tk 50,000 from the existing Tk 20,000, EC sources said.

The Election Commission can implement the 18-point proposal based on its own jurisdiction without bringing an amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), he added.

The former Awami League-led government had a longstanding tradition of involving artistes and celebrities in their election campaigns. Recently, popular actor Irfan Sajjad, who previously voiced support for anti-discrimination student movement, shared an incident on his Facebook profile related to this practice.

In his post, Irfan revealed, "During the previous election, I was offered a substantial sum to join their campaign. However, I politely declined, making it clear that I wouldn't align myself with any political party. In my view, none of the parties are deserving of my endorsement."

He continued, "I believe that actors, singers, directors, and all artistes are created by the people, for the people. It deeply saddens me to acknowledge that those artistes who supported atrocities while innocent lives were being lost have failed—not just as artistes, but as human beings. You may have seniority over us in the industry, but when it comes to humanity, you're far behind."

He went on to say, "I denounce you. I may not know who else was involved or supported these atrocities, but they share the same guilt. No matter how much you try to redeem yourselves now, it won't change anything."

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‘Throw hot water on protesters’: ‘Alo Ashbei’ artistes’ WhatsApp group under fire

Yesterday, a private WhatsApp group titled "Alo Ashbei" was exposed, revealing conversations where several prominent figures in the entertainment industry were found openly criticising the student movement. These revelations are what Irfan Sajjad referred to in his recent post.