Bangladesh: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2014

In Chandpur District, an activist of Jubo Dal, youth wing of the BNP, was killed in a clash between blockaders and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). 17 opposition activists were arrested in the District. Read less...

In Chittagong District, 15 masked men vandalised the mini-truck of Abu Hanif, a Workers Party (WP) candidate, being used for election campaign, in front of Samador Community Centre. They also exploded four to five crude bombs leaving three persons injured. Police arrested three youths in connection with the incident. In a separate incident, the driver of a microbus of TV channel Somoy was injured as Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres hurled a crude bomb at the vehicle. Read less...

In Dhaka city, a woman was injured as blockaders blasted crude bombs at Chankharpool. Read less...

In Gazipur District, two traders and a truck driver suffered injuries as blockaders threw petrol bombs at a truck at Kaliakoir. Read less...

JeI-ICS cadres equipped with lethal weapons swooped on the campaigners of Awami League (AL) candidate Saiful Karim and set three motorbikes afire in the Padmashakra area of Satkhira District on January 1, reports The Daily Star. Three of the campaigners sustained injuries during the attack. Police arrested a man named Jahangir Hossain (25) for his alleged involvement in the attack. Read less...

Law enforcers arrested 37 people in Sylhet District, 10 in Jhenidah District, six in Satkhira District and a BNP leader in Madaripur District for carrying out vandalism, arson attacks and subversive activities. Read less...

One person was killed and many others were injured in clashes between blockaders and law enforcers on January 1, the first day of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition's indefinite blockade across the country, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an election rally at Mirpur Adarsha High School ground in Dhaka city on January 1 said different quarters are conspiring to thwart the January 5 elections that are important for continuing the constitutional process in the country reports The Daily Star. She told, “The conspirators of 1/11 of 2007 are back with multifaceted plots and schemes to foil the upcoming elections and bring undemocratic forces to power.” Saying the elections would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner, the AL president urged people to exercise their democratic right to vote, and resist those who try to foil the elections. Hasina remarked that her Government has curbed terrorism and militancy while the BNP chairperson has harboured them. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Police foiled founding anniversary celebrations of the Jatiya Party (JP) led by HM Ershad in Dhaka city on January 1, reports New Age. The Gulshan Police Officer-in-Charge, Rafiqul Islam, told reporters that the party had no permission to hold such a political programme in the diplomatic zone. Read less...

The countrywide non-stop blockade, called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18-party alliance as its last-ditch effort to resist the January 5 ‘one-sided’ parliamentary polls, began at 6am on January 1 (today), reports The Independent. Read less...

A faction of JP leaders on January 2 formally announced an eight-point election manifesto and claimed that the party is contesting the January 5 polls with the consent of HM Ershad and his spouse Rawshan Ershad, reports New Age. JP presidium member and Minister for Water Resources Anisul Islam Mahmud claimed that each word of the manifesto was approved by Ershad. However, GM Quader, a presidium member, also head of the election manifesto formulation committee and Ruhul Amin Hawlader, the party’s secretary general, also the manifesto committee member, were not present during the announcement of the manifesto at a press conference held at Dhaka city. Read less...

A leader of Awami League (AL) was killed by the activists of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at Putimari Dola village in Lalmonirhat District on January 2, reports The Daily Star. The deceased, Sabbir Ahmed Raju (24) was general secretary of Mogholhat union unit of the pro-AL. Read less...

BNP on January 2 alleged that the Government was pushing the country towards a civil war by holding elections without voters, reports New Age. The BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Osman Farruk asked the Prime Minister to take steps for a dialogue cancelling the ‘farcical elections,’ scheduled for January 5, to hold inclusive elections. “There is still time to stop the farcical elections of January 5 and take steps for a dialogue for participatory elections,” Osman said. Read less...

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on January 2 said the indefinite blockade called by the opposition parties would not affect the January 5 parliamentary elections, reports The Hindu. After apprising poll preparations to President Abdul Hamid, the CEC told that no vehicle, except authorized ones, will be allowed to ply before the elections. “So there will be no problem to polls due to the blockade.” Read less...

Director General of Police (DGP) C Balasubramaniam on January 2 said that National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) still have 16 or more hideouts in Bangladesh, reports The Telegraph. Most of these hideouts were concentrated at Chittagong Hill Track (CHT) in the neighbouring country, Balasubramaniam said. He said about four to six hideouts were adjacent to the Indo-Bangladesh border while others were far away from it.The DGP said, “The NLFT headed by Biswamohan Debbarma is still a powerful outfit running around 15/16 hideouts in Bangladesh. One camp is still maintained by the ATTF that too by two women.” Admitting that insurgents were using Tripura-Mizoram- Bangladesh tri-junction as corridor, he said security agencies including Assam Riffles have been trying hard to stop infiltration of militants from across the border. Asked about security arrangement along the border keeping in mind the recent unrest in Bangladesh, the DGP said the BSF and District Police authorities were asked to maintain strict vigil along the border so that militants could not enter into the Indian soil. Read less...

ICS cadres cut the tendons in the right hand and leg of an AL activist in Raniganj area of Dinajpur District on January 2, reports The Daily Star. The victim is Muhamad Shawkat Hossain (35). Police said Shawkat was attacked near Raniganj Bazar by a group of people led by ICS cadre Sirajul. Read less...

Joint forces comprising members of Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), on January 2 arrested 10 cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) from different areas of Satkhira District on charge of their involvement in vandalism and subversive activities, reports The Daily Star. In Joypurhat District, Joint Forces arrested five activists of BNP and two cadres of JeI-ICS cadres on January 2. They were held on charges of involvement in vandalism and subversive activities during the recent blockade programmes. In Jhenaidah District, Joint Forces arrested two JeI cadres and a BNP man on January 2 for their alleged involvement setting fire to vehicles and blocking roads in the name of blockade. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing the nation on January 2 said that people would cast their votes without fear to elect candidates of their choice in January 5 elections, reports New Age. She said, “Election would be held under an independent and strong Election Commission, not under any unelected persons.” She further said that Parliament had adopted a permanent system for holding elections as in practice in other democracies in the world to shut the door permanently for undemocratic forces to usurp power unconstitutionally and play with the rights of the people. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 2 completed preparations for the January 5 Parliamentary poll, when it sent electoral equipment to Chittagong District, reports The Independent. EC secretary Dr Mohammad Sadik on January 3 said the poll will be held under heightened security in 147 constituencies, where 390 candidates will contest. He said “We are ready to conduct the poll in a proper manner. We are hopeful that we will be able to conduct a free and fair poll.” According to the EC, some 12 political parties are taking part in the election. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 2 expressed its concern to the President Abdul Hamid, that law and order might deteriorate even after the January 5 elections and requested him to keep troops on-duty even after January 9, reports New Age. Read less...

The Government did not accept resignations of Ershad-led Jatiya Party’s (JP’s) Ministers from the ‘polls-time cabinet’ of Sheikh Hasina till the last office day on January 2 before the January 5 national polls, reports New Age. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told, “The cabinet division has not yet received the resignation letters of Jatiya Party Ministers. They will remain Ministers until the gazette notifications are issued to the effect.” Read less...

At least three persons, including a woman passenger, sustained severe burn injuries when miscreants hurled a petrol bomb on a bus near Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka city on January 3 (today), reports The Daily Star. Read less...

At least two persons were killed and three others were injured as a truck fell into a roadside ditch when Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition blockaders hurled a petrol bomb on the vehicle near Hili Land Port in Dinajpur District on January 3 (today), reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr AK Abdul Momen addressing an opinion sharing meeting with journalists at the circuit house in Sylhet District on January 3 said observation was not mandatory for a free and fair election in a country like Bangladesh, while the likes of the USA, UK, and Malaysia did not have this practice. He, however, said still there were many challenges in politics. Politics of consensus is a must for continuing the democratic process, Momen observed. Read less...

BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on January 3 urged people to boycott the ‘farcical’ election scheduled for January 5, reports New Age. She gave a clarion call to people to carry out ‘democratic movement’ in a situation when she was under ‘house arrest.’ ‘I call upon countrymen to fully boycott the disgraceful farce in the name of election of January 5. None at home and abroad would give legitimacy to this farce as election,’ Khaleda said in a statement signed by her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan. Read less...

candidates contesting in the January 5 controversial elections with AL ticket have been instructed to adopt any means to ensure at least 60 per cent turnout of voters at the polling centres, reports New Age on January 4 (today). AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon that the party candidates were asked to invest their allout efforts and adopt the measures they feel necessarry in their respective constituencies to ensure high voters’ turnout. ‘We are expecting 60 per cent voters’ turnout in most of the constituencies where we have stronghold, but the turnout might not reach the expected level in the trouble-hit constituencies,’ he said. Read less...

Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York-based Human Rights watchdog, in a press statement issued on January 3 urged the Government to end its crackdown on the political opposition leaders and activists, and create conditions for free and fair elections, reports The Independent. The statement also said that opposition parties in Bangladesh should condemn and end violence by their supporters, which have caused hundreds of casualties. “Bangladesh is heading into the new year with violence at the polls and human rights protections missing in action,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW. Read less...

In Chapainawabganj District, three truckers were injured at Kansat on January 3 when blockaders hurled petrol bombs at the truck. The injured are drivers Jamaatul Islam (40), Azizul Islam (50) and Mohammad Arif (20). Read less...

In Feni District, attackers set fire to five schools, two of which were completely gutted, on January 3. The schools had been selected as vote centres for the January 5 parliamentary polls. The schools are: Omarpur Sultana Memorial Girls' High School, Gojaria Adarsha Academy, Nayanpur Govt Primary School, Basiriah Madrasa and Karimullah High School. Read less...

In Magura District, two truckers were injured when blockaders hurled petrol bombs at two running trucks on the highway in Parnanduajali area on January 3. Read less...

In Sitakunda District, miscreants’ brunt material for setting up a poll centre kept in the extended building of Alam Shafi Primary School in the municipality on January 3. The school premise was selected as a poll centre. Read less...

The president of Government Azizul Haque College unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) had his wrist blown off in a blast while he was allegedly making crude bombs at Jamil Nagar of Bogra District on January 3, reports The Daily Star. Jewel Sarkar (25) lost two fingers of his other hand in the blast. Police later arrested Jewel from Bogra Islami Hospital. Read less...

100 crude bombs were exploded near different polling centers in Sadar, Kolaroa, Tala and Kolaroa sub-Districts of Satkhira District from January 4 to January 5, reports The Independent. Police fired several rounds of bullets in the air to bring the situation under control. However, no causality was reported. Read less...

12 polling centres were torched in Laxmipur, Tangail, Gopalganj, Jhenaidah, Rajshahi Districts on January 4 (today), reports The Independent. Miscreants set fire to two polling centres in Jhenaidah, three in Laxmipur and Rajshahi, and four in Tangail Districts. Read less...

25 people were injured in an hour-long gunfight prompted by an attack by BNP men on a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of AL gathering in Ishwardi sub-Dsitrict of Pabna Dsitrict on January 4, reports The Daily Star. Police arrested nine BNP activists in connection with the clash and vandalism. Read less...

Anti-election activists vandalised a train at Ishwardi railway station in Ishwardi sub-Dsitrict of Pabna Dsitrict on January 4, leaving 10 passengers injured, reports The Independent. BNP activists swooped on Rajshahi-bound ‘Mahananda Express’ at Iswardi station and vandalised the compartments, injuring the 10 passengers. Joint Forces launched a drive following the incident and arrested 12 people from different areas. Read less...

Eight leaders and activists of the AL student front and Jubo League were injured when miscreants hurled a crude bomb at a procession brought out by district unit BCL in Bogra town of Bogra District on January 4, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Election Commission (EC) on January 4 directed the electoral inquiry committee concerned to take action against Jessore AL lawmaker Sheikh Afil Uddin who has instructed the party memebers to vote again and again during January's elections, reports The Daily Star. An electoral inquiry committee on Jessore-2 constituency investigated the allegation and found it true. The committee on January 3 sent its report to the commission, which directed the probe committee to frame charges against Afil Uddin under related laws and complete summary trial. Read less...

In Dinajpur District, Babul Hossain (45), a ward-level leader of BNP was killed in a clash between anti-election elements and Police in Nasipur area of the Sadar sub-District. Read less...

In Dinajpur Dsitrict, 32 polling centres out of 52 were burnt in Khansama sub-District on January 5 and 12 out of 68 centres afire in Chirirbandar sub-District on January 4. Read less...

In Lalmonirhat District, Mobarak Hosain (32), a local leader of BNP's volunteer wing Swechchhasebak Dal, was killed in a clash between AL and BNP supporters. Read less...

In Thakurgaon District, Abdul Jabbar (50), an assistant presiding officer was killed in an attack by anti-election activists on a polling centre in Sadar sub-District. Five Policemen were also injured in the attack. Read less...

Miscreants set fire to 47 polling centres in Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat District on January 4 and January 5 reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Of the polling centres which were set ablaze, 38 were reported from Rangpur; 22 from Bogra; 11 from Comilla; 10 from Jessore; seven from Gaibandha; six each from Mymensingh, Manikganj and Gaibandha; five each from Rajshahi, Chittagong and Feni; four each from Barguna, Netrakona, Tangail, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Khulna and Laxmipur; three each from Feni, Jhenidah, Dinajpur, Sunamganj, Sherpur and Sirajganj; two each from Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Sylhet; and one each from Dhaka, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Natore, Kushtia, Moulvibazar, Naogaon, and Kurigram Districts. Read less...

The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance's 48-hour countrywide hartal (shut down) began on January 4 (today) alongside its ongoing non-stop blockade programme demanding cancellation of January 5's "farcical" election and protesting "confinement" of party chief Khaleda Zia, reports The Independent. Read less...

The Joint Force comprised of members of the Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 16 activists of the opposition BNP and JeI-ICS during separate drives in Satkhira District on January 4, reports The Daily Star. The Joint Force recovered 3 kg of gunpowder and two bottles of acid from Bhomra Land Port area in Sadar sub-District. Police suspect that the explosives were stockpiled for committing subversive activities. Read less...

Three people, including an election official, were killed and at least 182 polling centres were torched in 36 Districts, in widespread violence on the eve of the 10th parliamentary election on January 4, reports The Independent. Read less...

25 candidates, mostly independent ones, reportedly withdrew from the race in the 10th parliamentary election on January 5 in protest against vote rigging and beating up of their polling agents in several Districts including Dhaka, Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur, Sirajganj, Barisal and Jamalpur, reports New Age. Read less...

Awami League (AL) secured a huge majority in the 10th parliamentary election winning 102 out of the 147 seats up for election, according to unofficial results, reports The Daily Star. With the 229 seats AL candidates won uncontested, the party now stands victorious in 102 constituencies. Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (JP) won 13 seats while Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) won two and Workers Party (WP) won four seats. Independent candidates won in 12 constituencies. One candidate each from Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and a rebel AL candidate came victorious. The Election Commission decided to hold the polls again in 8 constituencies: Dinajpur-4, Kurigram-4, Gaibandha-1, Gaibandha-3, Gaibandha-4, Jessore-5 and Laksmipur-1. Read less...

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on January 5 identified boycott by some political parties and thick fog as reasons for low voter turnout in the 10th parliamentary election, reports The Daily Star. "The turnout rate will be lower for rational reasons because some parties did not join the elections. Besides, thick fog gripped some Districts in northern region. That is why voter turnout rate was low. But we hope the rate will increase as the day progresses," he told. He claimed that the turnout rate is gradually changing and said, "It is a dynamic situation. We will be able to tell details about it after the voting is completed. I have no expectation on final turnout rate." Read less...

Counting of votes in the controversial 10th parliamentary election began on January 5 shortly after the voting ended at 4:00pm, reports The Daily Star. Beginning at 8:00am, vote casting continued without any break amid a low turnout in all the 147 constituencies where election was held. Read less...

Elections were held on January 5 in 147 out of 300 constituencies across the country amid high tension and fear following the unprecedented violence and boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Four election observers from India and Bhutan, the only foreign poll monitors in Dhaka, certified the January 5’s controversial voting as ‘smooth’, reports New Age. They, however, declined to say whether or not the virtually voter less election was credible, transparent or fair. Read less...

HT Imam, co-chairman of the AL’s election steering committee, on January 5 claimed that the 10th parliamentary election was held in a free, fair and credible manner, reports The Daily Star. "The polls have proved that a free, fair, credible and acceptable election is possible under a partisan Government," he said at a press briefing in Dhaka city. HT Imam, also a former adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claimed that the government did not have any interference over the Election Commission. "The administration was run in a way as whished by the Election Commission," he added. He also described the election as a victory of the people as well as democracy of the country. He added that more than 60 percent voters cast their ballots in some centres. Read less...

In Chittagong District, Lalu (23), a cadre of ICS was killed in Police firing during a clash between the opposition activists and law enforcers in Lohagora sub-District. Read less...

In Dinajpur District, an Ansar member and two opposition men were killed and five others injured in violence in Patgram sub-District. The Ansar man was beaten to dead by Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres as the law enforcers were trying to resist the cadres from attacking a polling centre in the sub-District. Read less...

In Feni District, Jamshed Alam (25), an activist of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP and Shahidullah, a cadre of ICS were killed in Police firing in Sonagazi sub-District when Police tried to foil the opposition activists' bid to snatch ballot papers from Uttor Char Chandia Government Primary School. Another ICS cadre was injured in the Police firing. Read less...

In Gaibandha District, a cadre of ICS was killed and 22 others were injured during a clash between AL and JeI-ICS cadres in Sundarganj sub-District. The deceased was identified as Shahabul Islam (22). Read less...

In Jessore District, a BNP activist was killed by law enforcers while looting a polling centre and torching ballot papers in Monirampur sub-District. The deceased was identified as Motier Rahman (28). Read less...

In Jessore District, miscreants blasted eight crude bombs at polling centers set up at eight Government Primary Schools in Monirumpur and Jhikorgachha sub-Districts on January 5. Of them, three crude bombs explosion were reported at three polling stations in Monirumpur sub-District while five in five centers in Jhikorgachha sub-District. Read less...

In Lalmonirhat District, anti-election activists torched three polling centers - Vandardah, Kuchlibari and Jamuna Government Primary Schools - in Patgram sub-District on January 5. Being resisted, the attackers beat up three law enforcers and a presiding officer at Vandardah Government Primary School and snatched all the ballot boxes from the centre. Read less...

In Laxmipur District, Victim Mohammad Rubel (22), a cadre of ICS was killed and two more were injured when Police open fire on them during a clash in Ramganj sub-District. Read less...

In Munshiganj District, Kangkan (24), joint secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP Shimulia union was killed in Tongibari sub-District. Read less...

In Naogoan District, a BNP activist was killed and six others were injured as joint forces opened fire in Manda sub-District. The deceased was identified as Babul Hossain (25). Six others were injured in the incident. Read less...

In Nilphamari District, two JeI-ICS cadres, Jahangir Alam (22) and Jaldhaka Mamtajul Haque (45), were killed in Police firing when they were trying to torch a polling centre. Read less...

in Rangpur District, Farooque Hossain (34), an activist of Swechchhasebak Dal, BNP's volunteer wing succumbed to his injuries at Rangpur Medical College Hospital on January 5 a day after Awami League (AL) activists stabbed him during a clash in Patgram sub-District of Lalmonirhat District, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

In Rangpur District, two JeI cadres were killed as Police opened fire on the cadres who were trying to seize a polling centre in Pirgachha sub-District. Around 30 to 35 JeI cadres swooped on the on-duty law enforcers with sharp weapons in a bid to occupy a polling centre in the sub-District. Read less...

In Thakurgaon District, three BNP men were killed as law enforcers opened fire on the BNP and JeI cadres who tried to bar voters from casting their votes at a polling centre in Sadar sub-District. The deceased were identified as Joynal (21), Harun (20) and Abu Hanif (28). At least 50 others were injured during the attacks. Read less...

Not a single vote was cast in at least 41 polling centres of 11 Districts on January 5, a phenomenon the nation has never before witnessed, reports The Daily Star. Of the polling centres, 27 were in Lalmonirhat, while four in Jhenidah, two in Satkhira, and one each in, Feni, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Chuadanga, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Rajshahi and Sirajganj Districts. All the centres were set up in BNP-JeI dominated areas. Read less...

Nuruzzaman (25), a trucker who sustained burn injuries when hartal (shut down) supporters hurled a petrol bomb on his vehicle in Gazipur District on January 4, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital of Dhaka city on January 5, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Six independent candidates and a Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) candidate boycotted January 5's polls alleging vote rigging by their ruling party rivals, reports The Daily Star. The boycott took place in Manikganj, Barisal, Barguna, Sherpur, Laxmipur, Pabna and Dhaka Districts. Read less...

Spearheaded by Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition men on January 5 unleashed fierce violence in 29 Districts to foil the election, leaving at least 18 people dead and many others injured, reports The Daily Star. The marauding JeI and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres and BNP activists clashed with law enforcers and ruling party Awami League (AL) men, attacked election officials and went on a rampage in more than 350 polling stations across the country. Voting was suspended in 539 polling centres in the wake of violence, according to the Election Commission (EC). Read less...

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres launched despicable attacks on Hindu communities in four Districts on January 5, reports The Hindu. Hundreds of houses of the minority community were torched and looted in Dinjapur, Jessore, Satkhira and Thakurgaon Districts. In Dinajpur District, at least 350 houses and 50 shops in five villages were damaged, set ablaze and looted as around 2,000 JeI-ICS cadres, armed with sharp weapons and sticks, launched the attack. Several hundred men, women and children fled their homes. In Jessore District, the JeI-ICS cadres vandalized at least 46 Hindu houses and establishments and torched six others on January 5, alleging that the minority people had voted for the AL. In Thakurgaon District, the JeI-ICS cadres went on the rampage, damaging and looting 65 houses and 30 shops and setting fire paddies stored on courtyards in several homes. In Satkhira District, JeI- BNP-men resorted to attacks with sharp weapons, sticks and iron rods. Several hundred Hindus and AL leaders have fled their homes. Read less...

Two factions of Jatiya Party (JP) rejected the ‘farcical’ polls outright and demanded holding of a fresh, inclusive and fair election immediately, reports New Age.. Terming the January 5 national polls a stigma for the Bangladeshi nationals, the JP factions, led by HM Ershad and Kazi Zafar Ahmed, also thanked the people for rejecting the one-sided elections. Read less...

20 activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League (AL) were injured in post-poll violence in two sub-Districts of Khagrachhari District on January 6, reports The Daily Star. In Panchhari sub-District, 15 people were injured in a clash. In Manikchhari sub-District, five people were injured in another clash between the activists of the two rival parties. Read less...

At least five people were killed and many others were injured in the post-election violence that erupted across the country on January 6, reports New Age. Read less...

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in an interview with the New York Times (NYT) on January 6 said her electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) as ‘not a permanent alliance’ and could reconsider her party’s electoral ties with JeI, reports New Age. When asked by the NYT if she would end the alliance, Khaleda said, ‘At the moment, I cannot, but when time will come I will see.’ The interview was published as a part of the Times’ report on the national elections, which Khaleda described as ‘farcical’. Read less...

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) on January 6 demanded that the Government to ban JeI-ICS and destroy the organization’s properties and networks, reports The Daily Star. CPB also urged the Government to hold a free and fair national election with participation of all parties. A statement issued by Mujahidul Islam Selim and Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, CPB president and general secretary respectively said “Rigging, attacks and low participation marked the election held in 147 constituencies. Although the ruling party succeeded in holding the farcical one-sided election, the political crises and violence will intensify instead of easing, it added.” Read less...

In Dhaka city (Dhaka District), supporters of the defeated Awami League (AL) candidate Abdul Mannan attacked the followers of the wining Jatiya Party (JP) candidate Salma Islam at Hazarbigha village triggering violent clashes. During the fighting, Musa Khandakar (55), Masud Khandaker (28) and Makbul Hossain Munshi (32) were assaulted to death. Another 25 people were injured. Read less...

In Dinajpur District, an opposition activist, Muhamad Asadullah (18), succumbed to his injuries after law enforcers assaulted him up following a clash with AL activists at a polling station in Birganj sub-District on January 5. Read less...

In Noakhali District, an activist of Juba League, the youth wing of AL, who was injured in the post-election violence on January 5, died in a hospital. The activist, Mahfuz Alam (24), was fatally injured when opposition men pounced on a victory procession of AL and Juba League at Gazaria bazar in the District. Read less...

Khaleda Zia, the BNP Chairperson on January 6 demanded cancellation of the 10th parliamentary polls and handing over power to a non-party neutral Government to pave the way for consensus to hold fair and participatory elections, reports New Age. She said, ‘The scandalous mockery of elections on January 5 not demonstrated people’s no-confidence in the government but also proved that free, fair, credible, peaceful and participatory elections would never be held without a non-party neutral Government and credible Election Commission.’ Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 6 asserted that her reelection in the much-disputed polls was legitimate and appealed to her arch-rival, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, to shun “terrorism”, reports Times of India. "I call upon all again, including the honorable leader of the opposition (Zia), for peaceful talks discarding the path of terrorism and violence and severing ties with war criminals and the militant Jamaat-e-Islami," a beaming Hasina said, offering an olive branch to the opposition leader in her first comments after her victory in January 5's polls. Read less...

The fresh 48-hour nationwide hartal, called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance demanding the cancellation of the 10th parliamentary election held on January 5, began at 6am on January 6 (today), reports The Independent. The shutdown that will end at 6am on January 8 is also meant for protesting the arrest of the opposition leaders and activists. Read less...

The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada and Commonwealth on January 6 termed the just-concluded parliamentary elections in Bangladesh “disappointing” as more than half of the seats were uncontested and the remaining ones showed only token opposition, reports The Daily Star. In a press statement, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department Marie Harf said “….It remains to be seen what form the new Government will take, United States commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh remains undiminished.” Baroness Warsi, the UK senior foreign office minister, said "Like others in the international community the UK believes that the true mark of a mature, functioning democracy is peaceful, credible elections that express the genuine will of the voters." Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said, "Canada welcomes the major parties' willingness to consider holding a new national election and urges all parties to reach an agreement soon that would allow the next election to be truly participatory, with results that all Bangladeshis will see as credible." Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma in a statement said "The limited levels of participation and the low voter turnout are disappointing. The acts of violence are deeply troubling and indeed are unacceptable in response to any political situation." Read less...

Three poll officials were arrested on January 6 at Sarail Uchaliapara Government Primary School centre under Brahmanbaria-2 constituency in Brahmanbaria District while stamping ballot papers in favour of JP candidate advocate Ziaul Haque Mridha, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are assistant presiding officer Zubeda Khatun and polling officers Kahinoor Begum and Nasima Khatun. Read less...

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on January 7 said “The anti-liberation forces torched and vandalized the institutions to destroy country's education system in the name of resisting the election. Burning schools is the most inhumane and cruel act. It destroys the confidence of students." 531 educational institutions were damaged on the just-concluded 10th parliamentary polls. Of the 531 institutions, 419 are primary schools, 82 high schools, 21 madrasas and nine colleges. Read less...

Law enforcers arrested many BNP and JeI cadres in several Districts on various charges on January 7, reports, The Daily Star. In Bhola District, Police arrested Earul Alam Liton, president of District unit Jubo Dal, the youth organisation of BNP. In Khagrachhari District, Police arrested seven leaders and activists of BNP from different areas. In Joypurhat District, Joint Forces in separate drives arrested four activists of BNP and JeI on suspicion of their involvement in sabotage acts. In Bogra District, Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested JeI leader Mamunur Rashid (35) accused in the case for March 03, 2013 violence that saw arson and vandalism in Bogra town. Read less...

Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement on January 7 (today) called on the political parties to resume meaningful dialogue and urgently addresses the expectations of the people of Bangladesh for an inclusive political process, reports The Independent. He said “The UN will continue to support the country’s democratic processes in accordance with the principles of inclusiveness, non-violence, reconciliation and dialogue.” Read less...

Police arrested two JeI leaders in Sylhet city of Sylhet District on January 7 on charge of clashing with law enforcers, reports The Daily Star. The arrested are Sylhet District unit Ameer (Chief) Anwar Hossain Khan and Secretary Islam Uddin. Police said the two were arrested in a case filed over clashing with Police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) during the BNP-led opposition's blockade on December 11, 2013. Read less...

Seven activists of BNP and JeI were arrested for attacks on minority Hindu community, reports Times of India. Two JeI cadres were arrested on January 6 for attacks on Hindus in Jessore District while five BNP supporters were arrested on January 7 for attacks on Hindus in Dinajpur District. The Hindus were targeted after members of the community voted in defiance of the opposition's call to boycott January 5's controversial general elections that were swept by Sheikh Hasina's AL party. Read less...

Shah Alam (35), a truck driver was killed and Al Amin (32), the helper of the truck sustained injuries as miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at a potato-laden truck at Horgati of Sirajganj District on January 7, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

British High Commissioner Robert Gibson met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan residence in Dhaka city on January 8, reports The Daily Star. Voicing its displeasure over the low turnout in the January 5 parliamentary elections, the United Kingdom has urged the Government and all political parties to act for sake of the people of Bangladesh. Khaleda and the British envoy exchanged their views on the latest political situation, post election development and other mutual interest of the two countries. Read less...

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on January 8 claimed that the commission successfully held the 10th parliamentary election on January 5, reports The Daily Star. He said “We have been able to complete the election fairly despite huge adversity. It is a big achievement. Nearly 40 percent of the votes were cast in 139 constituencies.” The EC wants members of the armed forces to continue their election duties till January 18 in eight constituencies where polling at over 390 centres was suspended due to widespread violence. In the centres, voting will take place on January 16. Read less...

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on January 8 said he would propose in the next Parliament to enact a law banning hartal (general strike) to save people's lives and the economy, reports The Daily Star. “Hartal should be banned. Whoever calls hartal now becomes violent, and a violent protest is acceptable in no way,” he told reporters after a meeting with a team of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) at his office in Dhaka city. Read less...

Two persons, who were burnt in a petrol bomb attack at Shahbagh in Dhaka city on January 3, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on January 8 (today), reports The Daily Star. The deceased were identified as Shahina Akter (42), an insurance worker and Farid Miah, a fruit trader. Read less...

Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina was on January 9 invited by the President to form Government after her party's victory in the controversial January 5 elections, reports Times of India. The AL clinched a landslide victory in the parliamentary election on January 5 by bagging 231 parliamentary seats of 300 seats in the face of a boycott of the polls by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance. Read less...

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who had been elected either prime minister or leader of the opposition since restoration of democracy in 1991, is going to enjoy neither of the status this time, reports The Daily Star on January 10 (today). She is losing all the state facilities for the first time in more than two decades as Sheikh Hasina is all set to become the Prime Minister on January 12 and Jatiya Party (JP) Presidium Member Raushan Ershad is set to play the role of leader of the opposition. Khaleda, whose opposition combine boycotted the January 5 polls, has lost the position of opposition leader with January 9's oath taking of Members of Parliament (MPs)-elect and selection of a new leader of the opposition, which is equivalent to the rank of a full-minister. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 9 said stern action would be taken against those involved in attacks on Hindu minorities’ post-election, reports The Hindu. Speaking at a meeting of leaders of the ruling AL-led alliance, Hasina said she had asked the authorities to compensate and rehabilitate the affected families of minorities. She urged opposition BNP leader Khaleda Zia to “stop attacks” on the minority community else, the Government would take “appropriate measures.” Read less...

The European Union (EU) on January 9 urged all political parties to refrain from violence and engage in genuine dialogue to hold transparent, inclusive and credible elections, putting the interests of the people of Bangladesh first, reports The Independent. “The EU urges all parties to refrain from violence and to engage in genuine dialogue to agree on a mutually acceptable way forward to strengthen democratic accountability and to hold transparent, inclusive and credible elections, putting the interests of the people of Bangladesh first,” said Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs. Read less...

The Members of Parliament (MPs)-elect took oath at the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) in Dhaka city on January 9 (today) morning, reports The Independent. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury administered the oath at 10:20am. The Election Commission (EC) on January 8 issued a gazette notification on the election of 290 lawmakers in the 10th parliamentary polls. And the MPs-elect must take the oath by January 11, as they are obliged under the constitution to do so within three days of the publication of the gazette. However, the results of two winning candidates– Sheikh Afiluddin of Jessore-1 and Monirul Islam of Jessore-2 — were not published as the EC issued show-cause notices against them for violation of the election code of conduct. Read less...

Muhamad Mitul (22), the driver of a human hauler lost his battle for life on January 10 (today) at the ICU of Chittagong Medical College Hospital in Chittagong District, reports The Daily Star. Mitul suffered 80 percent burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack at Technical intersection in Chittagong city on January 6. The arson attack took place when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18-party alliance was observing a two-day hartal (general strike) demanding cancellation of results of the 10th parliamentary election. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 10 warned against political violence and attacks on the minorities, and said the Government “will act as tough as it takes” to save lives and properties of people, reports The Daily Star."The Awami League knows very well how to deal with troublemakers," she said in a mammoth rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital Dhaka. The Prime Minister alleged the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and JeI had been attacking the Hindus and unleashing violence in different parts of the country like they did after the 2001 election. Read less...

The Army will remain deployed in eight constituencies till January 17 to ensure peaceful conduct of re-polling in 392 centres on January 16, reports The Daily Star. The eight constituencies are Dinajpur-4, Kurigram-4, Gaibandha-1, 3 and 4, Bogra-7, Jessore-5 and Laxmipur-1.The Election Commission has taken the decision of keeping the army personnel deployed as the strike force for free and fair re-polling in the centres. Read less...

The Government is set to file a petition with a War Crimes Tribunal for the trial and banning of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, 1971, reports The Daily Star. The investigators and prosecutors dealing with the 1971 war crimes are working on the petition against the backdrop of some critical observations made by the tribunals in some verdicts. The petition will be filed within the first week of next month, barrister Tureen Afroz, one of the prosecutors, said. In the petition, the prosecutors will pray for a ruling on JeI to apologise to the nation for its war-time roles and pay compensations to victims of crimes the party committed in 1971.They will seek directives from the tribunal on the Government to create a trust fund to disburse the compensation money among the victims or their families, Tureen Afroz said. Read less...

A leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was killed and 30 others were injured as ICS and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League (AL) clashed in Chittagong University of Chittagong District on January 12, reports New Age. The deceased was identified as Muhamad Mamun (27). The Police arrested 18 ICS cadres from the University. Read less...

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a statement on January 12 said an ominous journey of democracy has begun with the oath-taking of an “illegal and immoral Government” led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports The Daily Star. He said “Today is a black day for Bangladesh.... A scandalous journey of autocratic dictatorship has started by suppressing the democratic spirit.” He urged the Government to quit immediately and hand over power to a non-party caretaker administration for holding a free, fair election with the participation of all parties. Read less...

Police arrested two cadres of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party (BCP) along with arms and ammunitions at Charulia village of Chuadanga District on January 12, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees were Zaker Ali (40) and Basu Biswas (36). Police recovered two pistols and two bullets from them. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 12 said that she is willing to take “all possible steps” to protect democracy if a consensus can be reached with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition alliance, reports The Hindu. But Ms. Hasina insisted the opposition “will have to behave and stop violence and disruption”. She also reiterated that the BNP has to sever its ties with JeI before holding any talks with the Government. Read less...

Sheikh Hasina on January 12 said that she would never bow to any national or international pressures regarding the just-concluded parliamentary polls, reports The Independent. “You know well that Sheikh Hasina does not succumb to any pressure whether it is national or international. The country is ours and the people are ours. We would do whatever is needed for the welfare of the nation,” she said. She also sought cooperation from all to stop political violence and restore peace in the country as well as to run the new Government. Read less...

Sheikh Hasina was sworn in on January 12 for her second straight term as Bangladesh's Prime Minister and third overall, following one of the most violent elections in the country's history, reports Times of India. Hasina took the oath of office a week after her AL party won an election marred by street fighting, low turnout and an opposition boycott that made the results a foregone conclusion. President Abdul Hamid also swore in 29 cabinet ministers and 19 deputies. Read less...

An activist of Awami League (AL) was seriously injured as Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres hurled bombs in Shibtala area of Chapainawabganj District on January 13, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

An Auto-rickshaw driver Mohammad Bashir was injured in a crude bomb explosion in Chittagong city of Chittagong District on January 13, reports The Daily Star. Police said ICS cadres hurled the crude bomb. The bomb blasted smashing the front glass of his vehicle. Read less...

In Chapainawabganj District, an Awami League (AL) activist was seriously injured as JeI and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres exploded bombs in Shibtala area of the District town on January 13, reports The Daily Star. The injured AL activist is identified as Mainul Islam. Read less...

Law Minister Anisul Huq on January 13 said that he would take necessary steps to bring the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman back to the country so that they face the further process of trial, reports The Daily Star. Anisul was the principal counsel for the state in the cases of killings of Bangabandhu and four national leaders in 1975, and the Pilkhana carnage in February 2009. Six convicted killers of Bangabandhu and most of his family members are now absconding. They are Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin Khan. Two of them are now in the United States (US) and Canada, while whereabouts of the remaining four are not known. Read less...

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18-party alliance is planning a fresh spell of anti-Government campaigns for the sake of its political existence and to mount a pressure on the Government for immediate negotiations that will lead to a free, fair, inclusive, and peaceful election, reports The Independent. With a view to finalising the fresh course of action, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia held a meeting with the alliance partners at her Gulshan office in Dhaka city on January 13. Besides, the diplomatic wing of the BNP also plans to maintain regular correspondence with foreign diplomats in a bid to keep the newly formed AL-led Government under a pressure for holding an immediate fresh election. Read less...

US Department of State on January 13 said that despite disappointment of the January 5 general election, the US will continue to work with the Government of Sheikh Hasina, reports The Daily Star. “We continue to work – of course we will, but while at the same time making clear our concerns with the election,” said Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State. Harf further said, “Well, that’s not exactly how it works. We obviously work with governments who are elected, but in regards to these elections themselves, we have already made clear our disappointment with the elections.” Read less...

A cadre of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was killed during a gunfight with Joint Forces in Debhata sub-District of Satkhira District on January 14, reports The Daily Star. The deceased is identified as Anwarul Islam (30). Four Policemen were injured during the gun battle. The law enforcers also recovered a pipe gun, six cartridges, two handmade bombs and two sharp weapons from the area. Read less...

In Jhenidah District, Joint Forces arrested nine JeI-ICS cadres on January 14 for their alleged subversive activities. Read less...

In Joypurhat District, Police arrested 10 activists of BNP and its ally JeI on January 14. Police said a team of Police raided different places of the District at night and arrested the 10 on their suspected involvement in violence. Read less...

In Laxmipur District, Police arrested 14 activists of BNP and JeI from different places of the District on January 14 wanted in several cases Read less...

In Rangpur District, Police arrested 11 BNP and JeI-ICS cadres from different areas on January 14. Police arrested them as they gathered in the Kotwali Police Station area and tried to put up barricade on the rail line. Read less...

In Satkania District, nine JeI-ICS cadres were arrested in Kanchhana, Chhadaha, Karoinagar, Afjalnagar and Bazalia areas on January 14. Police said all the arrestees are accused in different cases filed over subversive activities. Read less...

In Sitakunda District, Police arrested six JeI-ICS cadres during raids in Madyam Mohadevpur, Barabkunda, Banshbaria, Bakkhali and other areas on January 14. A locally made gun and two crude bombs were recovered from one of the arrestees. Read less...

Bachchu Pradhan (50), who suffered burn injuries in a petrol bomb attack in Chandpur District on January 6, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka city on January 15 (today), reports The Daily Star. Bachchu was injured in an attack by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led opposition men demanding cancellation of the poll results. Read less...

BNP leader Khaleda Zia on January 15 claimed the country had been ‘robbed of democracy’ and said it must be restored through a peaceful movement, reports The Hindu. Addressing a press conference, she vowed to continue the anti-Government campaign and said she would mobilize the people against the ‘illegal’ and ‘dangerous’ Government. Ms. Zia asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to initiate fresh talks to end the political deadlock in Bangladesh, saying the January 5 general election boycotted by opposition parties has installed an “illegal” Government. Read less...

In Satkhira District, Joint Forces arrested 11 activists of BNP and its ally JeI on January 15. They were arrested on charges of involvement in post-election violence, tree felling, vandalism and subversive activities during the recent blockade programmes of the 18-party opposition alliance in the District. Read less...

Law enforcers arrested 70 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres from seven Districts on various charges, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

The ruling Awami League (AL) on January 15 urged Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia to sever ties with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) if her party wanted a meaningful dialogue with the Government, reports The Daily Star. “There can be a meaningful dialogue if she [Khaleda Zia] declares that she will cut ties with war criminals and shun destructive programmes,” AL's publicity affairs secretary Hasan Mahmud told. Prime minister's adviser HT Imam echoed similar views “The BNP will have to prove that they have cut relations with JeI-Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) and discarded violence. The party will have to earn the trust of the public. Then we'll sit in a dialogue.” Read less...

Three female cadres of Hizb-ut Tawhid were arrested at Bhandaria sub-District of Pirojpur District on January 15, reports New Age. The arrestees were Hasina Begum (35), Tania Akter (21) and Munia Akter (18). Police arrested the three as they were distributing leaflets of the organization at Bhandaria bazaar. Police also recovered some banned books and leaflets from their possession. Read less...

Two local leaders of the Awami League (AL) were injured in an attack by miscreants in the Kalanal area of Khagrachhari District on January 15, reports New Age. The injured were identified as Nazir Mahmud, general secretary of Panchhari unit of Juba League (AL’s student front), and Shrikanta Deb Manik, president of the same unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL, AL’s youth wing). Injured Manik blamed activists of the local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its associate bodies for the attack. Read less...

53 BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres were arrested in three Districts on various charges on January 16, reports The Daily Star. In Rangpur District, Police arrested 23 activists of BNP and JeI-ICS cadres from different areas for attacking polling centres, setting fire to polling centres, snatching ballot boxes and papers, vandalising and ransacking the Hindu people's houses in the District on January 5 national elections day. In Jenidah District, Joint Forces arrested 20 people belonging to BNP and JeI-ICS on various charges including subversive activities. In Joypurhat District, Police arrested 10 activists of BNP and JeI-ICS in an all-out drive in the District on charges of violence and sabotage. Read less...

Awami League (AL) bagged three of the seven parliamentary constituencies where re-polling were held at 390 suspended polling stations on January 16 amid low turnout, reports New Age. Of the rest four constituencies, Jatiya Party (JP) faction led by HM Ershad got one, Bangladesh Tariqat Federation (BTF) one, while two independent candidates won the election to the rest two seats. With the latest election results, the AL bagged 234, JP 34, Workers Party (WP) 6, Hasanul Haque Inu-led Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) 5, BTF 2, Anwar Hossain Manju-led JP 1 and Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) bagged 1 seat while the rest 16 were won by independent candidates. Read less...

The European Parliament passed a resolution on January 16, calling on the Government and the opposition to find a compromise to give the people of Bangladesh a chance to express their democratic choice in a representative way, reports The Independent. The resolution said that in the interest of Bangladesh’s future, parties having a democratic reputation need to develop a culture of mutual respect and urged the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to unequivocally distance itself from Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and Hafezat-e-Islam (HeI). It also stressed that parties which turn to terrorist acts should be banned. Read less...

A leader of Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree (BCM), the student wing of Workers Party (WP) was injured as miscreants allegedly hurled two crude bombs at one of the buses carrying Ganajagaran Mancha activists in Bogra District on January 17, reports New Age. The injured Tanvir Rusmot was general secretary of BCM. Police arrested at least four people in connection with the incident. Read less...

BNP on January 17 refuted the European Parliament resolution that suggested the party should distance away from JeI, saying that there is no evidence of the Islamist party’s link to attacks on minority community in Bangladesh, reports The Independent. One party insider said “The country’s ongoing violent activities, including the attacks on the minorities, are an outcome of the Government failure to ensure full voter participation in the January 5 general poll.” Read less...

The Joint Forces arrested at least 97 Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and JeI-ICS cadres in drives in 9 Districts across the country on January 17, reports New Age. In Jaipurhat District, Joint Forces arrested 25 activists BNP and JeI on charge of subversive activities at four sub-Districts. In Jessore District, the joint forces arrested at least 15 BNP and JeI activists in separate drives in eight sub-Districts accused in different cases connected to violence in recent political programmes. In Chittagong District, at least 14 people were arrested accused of violence and subversive activities. In Sylhet District, Police arrested 13 BNP-JeI men in separate drives in Sylhet city. The Police also recovered a pipe gun and two bullets from the possession of three ICS cadres — Fakhrul Islam, Muzahidul Islam and Sadequr Rahman. In Rangpur District, the Joint Forces arrested at least 12 BNP-JeI activists from eight sub-Districts. In Comilla District, Police arrested eight BNP-JeI men in separate drives. In Sunamganj District, the Police arrested eight BNP-JeI men at different sub-Districts of the District. In Satkhira District, the Joint Forces arrested a JeI cadre from Raita sub-District. In Barisal District, the Police arrested Gournadi sub-District unit joint convener of Juba Dal, the youth wing of BNP in connection with a case of arson attack on a Police box. In Pirojpur District, president of Pirojpur municipality unit BNP Bodiuzzaman Sheikh was arrested from the Pirojpur town in connection with arson attack on an Awami League (AL) office. Read less...

A cadre of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), was killed during a “gunfight” with the members of Joint Forces in Sadar sub-District of Satkhira District on January 18 (today), reports The Daily Star. The victim is identified as Abu Hanif Choton (16). Read less...

55 people, including 22 Policemen, were injured when JeI and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres on January 19 ambushed a Police team in the Sundarganj sub-District area of Gaibandha District and clashed with the Joint Forces sent to relieve the Police team, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested three Pakistanis of Myanmar origin on January 19 on suspicion of having links with the banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). DB arrested Mehmud (26), Osman (23) and Fakhrul Hasan (50) at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka city in possession of a laptop containing manuals for making bombs and using firearms. DB claimed that the trio had links with militant groups in Bangladesh as well and Mehmud and Osman were experts in making 12 types of bombs, including car bombs and grenades. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 19 announced schedules for elections to 102 sub-District councils, posting the polling day for February 19, reports New Age. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said that aspiring candidates would need to collect and submit nomination papers by January 25. Returning officers will examine the validity of nomination papers on January 27 and candidates would be able to withdraw their candidatures until February 3. The candidates will be able to begin their electioneering soon after the symbol allotment on February 4. Read less...

Police on January 20 found the body of Atiqur Rahman Atique (26), a leader of Tupimari union unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accused in the Awami League (AL) leader Asaduzzaman Noor’s motorcade attack case from Dhalagachh Naria Danga in Nilphamari District, reports The Independent. On December 14, 2013 some local activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) allegedly attacked the motorcade of Asaduzzaman Noor, now Cultural Affairs Minister, in Ramganj sub-District of Lakshmipur District leaving nine people dead and 47 others injured. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 20 said that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would pay for her mistake by not joining the January 5 general elections, reports New Age. Sheikh Hasina said ‘She [Khaleda Zia] will pay for her mistake by not contesting the elections. They not only boycotted the election but called for resistance, enforced blockades, hartals, unleashed terror, killed people and carried out arson attacks, but people cast their votes and we have formed the Government. BNP did not join the election as its ally JeI could not participate in the polls due to a High Court order and Khaleda Zia boycotted the election to maintain her alliance with the JeI.’ Read less...

Terming the present Government illegal and isolated, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 20 demanded a fresh election under a neutral administration as soon as possible, reports The Daily Star. “There is still time. I call upon this shameless Government to leave its lust for power and prove its popularity in fresh polls. It cannot be a Government of the people because people didn't vote for it. We want to tell the Government it doesn't have any public support ... Arrange immediately an election under a non-party administration,” she told a BNP rally in the Dhaka city's Suhrawardy Udyan. Read less...

The Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JeI) Meherpur District unit, Tarique Mohammad Saiful Islam (35), was killed in a “gunfight” with Police on January 20 (today), reports The Daily Star. One firearm, five crude bombs and six bullets were recovered from the incident site. The victim was the eldest son of Samiruddin, former Chief of JeI’s Meherpur District unit. Read less...

The secretary of Pabna District unit of JeI and the chief of JCD Pabna town unit were arrested in Pabna town of Pabna District on January 20 on various charges including violence, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees Abu Taleb Mondol and Ariful Islam were later sent to jail. Read less...

A cadre of ICS who sustained bullet injuries during January 19's clash with Joint Forces in Gaibandha District succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Bogra District on January 21, reports The Daily Star. The deceased is identified as Shahinur Rahman Shohag. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is likely to keep a ‘strategic distance’ from its major ally JeI in the face of ‘pressure’ different local and international quarters which castigated the politics of violence, the BNP sources said on January 21, reports New Age. There is also pressure from inside the BNP to sever ties or at least keep its distance from JeI as many leaders and activists of the party did not want to share the blame of violence being carried out by JeI as well as its stigma of war crimes, the party insiders said. Read less...

Bangladesh tumbled backward on human rights in 2013 as the Government engaged in a harsh crackdown on members of civil society, the media, and political opposition, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its World Report 2014 released on January 21, reports New Age. The authorities often employed violent and illegal measures against protesters and failed to initiate any investigations into credible allegations of unlawful deaths at the hands of its security forces, it said. Read less...

Law enforcers on January 21 arrested nine Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and JeI activists in three Districts on various charges including of vandalism and subversive activities, reports The Daily Star. In Rangpur District, six leaders and activists of BNP and JeI accused in Police cases filed with different Police Stations in the District were arrested from different areas. In Feni District, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Nur Alam (30) and Abdul Awal (35), activists of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP. In Khulna District, Police arrested Al Fida Hossain, publicity secretary of Khulna city unit of JeI from his house. Read less...

Miscreants, in separate incidents, stabbed to death an activist of Juba League, the youth wing of Awami League (AL), and a former leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), in Bogra town of Bogra District on January 21, reports The Independent. The deceased were identified as Abdul Mazid (28) a local leader of Juba League and former ICS leader Abdul Baki (28). Read less...

Rallies and road blockades marked the dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) enforced in Pabna District by the District JeI-ICS cadres on January 21 in protest at the arrest of its District unit secretary Abu Taleb Mondal, reports New Age. During the daylong hartal, pickets blocked the Dhaka-Pabna highway, burning tyres at different places of the highway. Police arrested District JeI secretary from Masum Bazar in the Pabna town on January 20 after an 18-party procession. Read less...

An activist of Juba League, the youth wing of Awami League (AL), was killed in Chittagong District while a female activist of AL was injured in an attack by miscreants at Shibganj sub-District of Chapainawabganj District on January 22, reports The Daily Star. In Chittagong District, Police recovered the body of Muhamad Alamgir (30) at Eochia village. Local AL and Jubo League leaders blamed the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres for the murder. In Chapainawabganj District, a gang of miscreants attacked AL activist Nurjahan Begum (45) in Shibganj sub-District. Miscreants cut the tendons in her right hand and left leg. Read less...

Pickets vandalized 10 vehicles and torched a truck during daylong hartal (general strike) called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18-party alliance in Bogra District on January 23, reports The Daily Star. The alliance enforced the shutdown protesting 'Government's Conspiracy' against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and the killing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader Abdul Baki. Read less...

The BNP-led 18-party alliance and JeI separately enforced dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) in Bogra District on January 23 (today), reports The Independent. The BNP led 18-party alliance enforced the hartal demanding withdrawal of all cases against BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and release of its party leaders. JeI called the hartal in the District to protest the murder of former ICS leader Abdullah Al Baki on January 21. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 23 decided to deploy armed forces to maintain law and order during the sub-District parishad elections to be held in phases from February 19, reports The Daily Star. The decision came following a meeting on law and order ahead of the sub-District elections at the EC Secretariat in Dhaka city. The EC at the meeting proposed to the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) to deploy forces for five days beginning from two days ahead of each phase. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on January 24 reacted sharply to the Prime Minister’s comments that the BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia had now become the Ameer (Chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and said that actually Sheikh Hasina Wajed could now be called the ‘Chief of Jatiya Party (JP)’ for her ties with them, reports New Age. BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon said that there is a gulf of difference in principles and ideologies of BNP and JeI. Read less...

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhul Islam Alamgir on January 24 said Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) is in the 18-party alliance and will be in the future, reports UNBconnect. Terming the Government a ‘killer one’, Fakhrul said public life and property are not safe in the hand of the ‘hypocrite’ Government. This Government can no longer be allowed to remain in power. He also urged country’s people to wage a movement to topple the Government. Read less...

Police arrested eight cadres of banned Islamist outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) in Dhaka city's Khilkhet area on January 24, reports The Daily Star. Police recovered around 1,000 leaflets, 25 magazines, four jihadi (holy war) books and eight banners from their possessions. Read less...

Urging the Government to come out of its five-year illusion, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 25 said the days of the new ‘illegal’ regime are numbered, reports UNBconnect. “The Government is screaming at the top of its voice that it’ll be there in office for five years. Start counting how many days you can remain there in power, let alone five years,” she said. Read less...

10 persons were injured during a clash between Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League (AL) and ICS cadres on January 26 in Sylhet District, reports The Daily Star. During the clash, activists of the two student organizations hurled brick bats at each other. Read less...

BCL activists beat an ICS cadre on Barisal University campus in Barisal District on January 26, reports The Daily Star. The victim is Abdul Hye, a third year Mathematics student of the University. Confessing to the beating, Jasimuddin, president of BCL Barisal city unit said they did so because Abdul was distributing JeI-ICS's leaflets. Read less...

Police on January 26 arrested two ICS cadres, Abul Hashem and Jamsed Uddin Shakil from Sitakunda sub-District of Chittagong District in cases filed over vandalism and arson attack on highway vehicles, reports New Age. Read less...

Two leaders and one cadre of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) were killed in encounters with law enforcers in separate incidents in two Districts on January 26, reports New Age. In Jhenaidah District, Kotchandpur sub-District JeI finance secretary Enamul Haque Biswas was killed. Five Joint Forces personnel had sustained injuries in the gunfights and Police recovered a pistol and several crude bombs. Further, in Satkhira District, Debhata sub-District unit ICS secretary Abul Kalam and cadre Maruf Hossain were killed. Police recovered two pipe guns, five crude bombs, bullets and machetes. Read less...

A leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student organization of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), identified as Azharul Islam was killed by Joint Forces in a gunfight in Magura Kheyaghat area of Tala sub-District in Satkhira District on January 27, reports New Age. Read less...

Police on January 27 arrested 11 cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) from messes around Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet District following two cases filed over vandalism on the campus, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) cancelled the nominations of 112 aspirants out of 1,732 on January 27 during the scrutiny in the first phase elections to 98 sub-Districts slated for February 19, reports The Independent. Of the 112, nomination papers of 41 chairman aspirants were rejected while of 48 vice-chairman aspirants and 23 reserved (women) vice-chairman were cancelled. With this, the number of valid candidates in the 98 sub-Districts has come down to 1,620 that include 651 chairman candidates, 612 vice-chairman candidates and 357 reserved vice-chairman candidates. A total of 1,732 candidates 692 for chairman, 660 for vice-chairman and 380 for reserved vice-chairman submitted nomination papers within the January 25 deadline to run the polls. Read less...

Almost a year after the killing of blogger Rajib, detectives on January 28 charged Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani, chief of militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and seven students of North South University, reports Daily Star. The charge sheet mentioned Jasimuddin as the “instigator” while Redwanul Azad Rana, one of the seven students, as the “planner”. Rana is on the run while Jasimuddin and six others ,Mohammad Faisal Bin Nayem alias Dweep, Maksudul Hasan alias Anik, Mohammad Ehsan Reza alias Rumman, Nayem Sikdar alias Iraj, Nafis Imtiaz and Sadman Yasir Mahmud, are in custody. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) killed Touhidul Islam Sabuj (28), the ‘second-in-command’ of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), in an exchange of fire in Phultala sub-District of Khulna District on January 28, reports The Daily Star. Read less...

Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) had found refuge in Bangladesh during the last tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Government, reports The Daily Star on January 30 (today). This has been proven through exposure of several smuggling cases like Bogra ammunition haul and Chittagong 10-truck arms haul in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The cases revealed that the state machinery of the then BNP-led Government had been allowing Indian separatists to use the Bangladesh territory to smuggle in arms for waging war in eastern India. In their court admissions in the 10-truck arms haul case, arrested former Director General (DG) of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brigadier General (retd) Muhamad Abdur Rahim, and its former director (security) Wing Commander (retd) Sahabuddin Ahmed revealed that Bangladeshi players had been working alongside Pakistani intelligence to facilitate such arms smuggling. Read less...

Police arrested four cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), while they were making bombs in the Jamil Nagour area of Bogra District on January 29, reports The Independent. Police recovered a petrol bomb, two liters of petrol, 200 grams of gunpowder and some other bomb-making materials from the spot. Read less...

Police foiled black flag processions the BNP and its partners in the alliance tried to bring out in protest at the ‘illegal’ 10th Parliament going into its first session on January 29 and stopped alliance leaders and activists holding such programmes elsewhere in the country, reports New Age. The BNP Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, at a press conference on January 15 had announced the programme to observe January 29 as ‘democracy killing day’ in protest at the 10th Parliament going into its first session and termed the Parliament ‘illegal.’ Read less...

The 10th Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) began its maiden session on January 29 with the party in the opposition sharing power in the Government and major political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its allies, staying outside the house, reports New Age. The proceedings, which the ninth Parliament deputy speaker Shawkat Ali presided over, began with the election of Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as the speaker and Fazle Rabbi as the deputy speaker of the 10th Parliament. They were elected unopposed. Read less...

The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB) on January 29 demanded early national elections for strengthening democratic process and ending political unrest reports New Age. They also called on the Election Commission (EC) to take steps to stop the use of money and muscle in the sub-district elections. They urged the voters to elect candidates of pro-liberation forces who are honest and progressive. Read less...

A Chittagong District Court on January 30 awarded death penalty to 14 people, including Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ameer (chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) ‘vice-president’ and ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah for smuggling 10 truckloads of arms into Chittagong District in 2004 during the last Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led Government's tenure, reports The Daily Star. The cases were lodged with Karnaphuli Police Station a day after the arms haul at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL) jetty in the early hours of April 2, 2004. The other convicts include ex-minister, Luftuzzaman Babar, former Director of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Major General (retired) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, ex-director general of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brigadier General (retired) Abdur Rahim, former NSI director Wing Commander (retired) Shahab Uddin, former NSI Deputy Director Major (retired) Liakat Hossain, ex-NSI Field Officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry Nurul Amin, ex-CUFL Managing Director Mohsin Talukder and former CUFL General Manager (administration) Enamul Hoque. Three other condemned men are Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, a local arms smuggler, Din Mohammad, who supplied workers for offloading the arms and ammunition, and Haji Abdus Sobhan, owner of one of the two trawlers that carried the weapons from the deep sea to the CUFL jetty. Of the convicts, 12 were present in court, while Paresh Barua and Nurul Amin are on the run. Read less...

84 cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were arrested on January 31 for their alleged involvement in vandalizing 13 buses and windowpanes at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet District on January 26, reports New Age. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on January 31 termed ‘farcical and politically motivated’ the verdict on the 2004 arms haul case to eliminate the opposition, reports New Age. BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said those who had seized the arms were implicated in the case and the verdict was given after holding their trial. He said it was ‘politically motivated and farcical’ as well as a ‘deep conspiracy’ and a part of a master plan to undermine and eliminate the opposition. He said there was no alternative to overcome the present anarchic and terrible situation marked by killings, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance. Read less...

JeI on January 31 called a countrywide daylong hartal (general strike) to be scheduled on February 3 protesting the death penalty to its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami in the arms haul case of 2004, reports The Daily Star. Read less...