Absence of main opposition remains the biggest challenge
Although this new US visa policy is proving expedient, it would not be wise to believe that the country is intent on fostering democracy in Bangladesh.
It is quite intriguing how the RPA amendment can be so accommodating to defaulters who are desperate to gain political power.
It appears, then, that the Awami League’s bold rhetoric of development and prosperity, transparency and good governance, and fostering democracy is rendered hollow by its own partymen – unwittingly or not.
Just as BNP was about to come up with fresh programmes, Ramadan arrived, rendering all politics to the confines of the iftar table.
The BNP will go tough on its leaders and activists who will run for councillor in the city polls and those who will patronise them.
Sumon, a crime reporter at Agami News, was attacked while taking photos of a gathering of Awami League activists in Rayerbazar area on Dhaka city corporation election day.
While we are happy that the three city mayoral elections have come to an end with little violence, they were, as we had feared, simply the iteration of the Khulna and Gazipur polls. They bear nearly all the hallmarks—from ballot stuffing to expelling election agents—of a heavily manipulated election.
Voting in Barisal, Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporations begins this morning with all the mayoral candidates except for the ones from the Awami League casting doubt about fair polls amid arrests and harassment of their supporters.
IT is disquieting to see that the media was conspicuously barred from properly covering the city polls.
STUFFING of ballot boxes whether in national or local elections is nothing new in Bangladesh.
A group of Bangladesh Ansar members, demanding their remuneration of yesterday’s city polls duty, blocked a major road in the capital this evening, leading to a clash with the police at Mirpur.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) terms the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections questionable and embarrassing in national and international level.
WHAT started off as a peaceful, tension-free day of voting, turned out to be a disappointment for the city dwellers of Dhaka and Chittagong.
IN these very columns we had carried an article with a similar heading following the farcical January 5, 2013 elections. Regrettably, we have to say the same about yesterday's mayoral election that did not live upto our expectations.
Experts and observers share their views on the electoral proceedings of the City Corporation Elections and their implications for the political climate of the country with The Daily Star.
At least 10 journalists were assaulted by ruling party men during the city corporation elections yesterday.
Ruling Party Awami League supporters allegedly stormed into Uttar Kafrul Government Primary School and vandalised ballot boxes in Cantonment area under Dhaka North City Corporation this morning.
US expresses disappointment over 'widespread, first-hand, and credible reports of vote-rigging, intimidation and violence that have occurred at polling stations today, and the BNP’s decision to boycott the city corporation polls'.
