National
12th Parliamentary Election At a Glance
Biggest Budget National Election Underway in Bangladesh
The ongoing 12th general election in Bangladesh holds the record for the largest election budget in the nation’s history, estimated at around Tk2,276.22 crores. Out of this expenditure, approximately Tk1,225.62 crore is allocated for maintaining law and order, while the remaining Tk1,050.60 crore is designated for election management activities. The budget may see further adjustments, according to a high official of the Election Commission (EC).
Candidate and Constituencies Details
The election, scheduled for January 7, involves voting from 8 am to 4 pm across 299 constituencies. Voters in these constituencies can cast their votes at approximately 2.60 lakh polling booths in 42,024 polling stations throughout the country. Despite having 300 constituencies, the election will proceed in 299, with a total of 1,969 candidates in the running. Of these, 1,533 are from 28 political parties, and 436 are independents. The EC postponed the election for Naogaon-2 constituency due to the death of an independent candidate.
Ballot Distribution and Campaign Code Violations
The EC has decided to send ballot papers to polling centers across the country on the morning of the election day, excluding remote and hard-to-reach areas, to enhance transparency. The campaign period has been marred by numerous violations of the electoral code of conduct, with the EC struggling to curb violations by issuing notices, summonses, and warnings. Only one candidate had their candidature canceled for code breaches, but they later regained candidacy through a High Court writ.
Security Measures and Vehicular Restrictions
Law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, Ansar, BGB, and Coast Guard, have deployed approximately 750,000 members to ensure security during the 12th National elections. The armed forces, consisting of 38,154 army members, have been active since Wednesday, coordinating with other forces. Vehicular movement restrictions, including the ban on taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks, are in place on election day. Motorcycle movement will remain closed for three days until January 8, while private cars and public transport will have relaxed restrictions.
Voter Statistics and Observer Presence
The final voter list for the 12th national parliamentary polls indicates a total of 11,96,89,289 voters in the country, with 6,07,69,741 male voters, 5,89,18,699 female voters, and 849 transgender voters. The EC approved 20,773 local observers from 84 organizations to monitor the elections, along with 126 foreign observers from 34 countries and 4 organizations. Additionally, 76 foreign journalists are covering the poll. Around 9 lakh polling officers are on duty, including returning officers, assistant returning officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers.
National
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The Ministry of Education confirmed the appointment through an official notification issued on Sunday (23 November), signed by Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on behalf of the President.
The notice states that, with the approval of the Honorable President and Chancellor, Professor Rahman will serve a four-year term as Vice-Chancellor under Section 31(1) of the Private University Act, 2010. He will receive all salary, allowances, and benefits as determined by the university, and his duties will commence immediately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Professor Rahman has an outstanding academic background. He secured First Class First in his Honors degree from the University of Dhaka’s Marketing Department, achieving record-breaking marks. He completed his MBA with dual majors in Finance and Marketing at Dalhousie University in Canada, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He later earned his Master’s degree (First Class Second) and PhD from the same department at the University of Dhaka.
During his illustrious 35-year career, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka for three years and was elected to both the Syndicate and Senate of the university. He also served as Dean at Daffodil International University and has taught as an adjunct professor at North South University, BRAC University, and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
Professor Rahman has an extensive body of research, with over 35 publications, including four international papers and three research monographs. Several MPhil and PhD scholars have completed their degrees under his supervision. He also served for many years as Vice President of the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association.
Outside academia, he has contributed significantly to the corporate sector and educational governance. He has worked as an independent director and strategic adviser to various reputed organizations and has served on the governing bodies of several well-known colleges in Dhaka. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the North South Society.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
