By Ali Hassan

Great violence in Bangladesh was evident in last General Elections. Electoral violence started with the date December 10, 2018, as formally approved candidate lists published and election campaigning began in constituencies across the country. Hundreds had been injured during political rallies in clashes between rival party supporters.

Awami League (AL) was then the ruling party and BNP was an opposition party, so much of the campaign violence targeted the opposition BNP and supporters of an opposition coalition efforts led by civil society leaders called the Jatiya Oikya Front (National United Front). Alleged members of the ruling party attacked vehicles carrying Jatiya Oikya Front leader, 81-years-old Kamal Hossain. While he was unharmed, at least 25 others people were injured in that incident. The Chief Election Commissioner, KM Nurul Huda, described the attack as “unfortunate,” but did not order additional security.

Moreover, in many cases, journalists present at the clashes concluded BNP campaigns had come under attack by members of the Awami League. The ruling party, however, blamed the opposition for most of the violence. Scores of opposition members were arrested. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's political adviser, H.T Imam told that they were getting news of political violence from different parts of the country.

The BNP participated in the 2018 election as the National Unity Front (NUF) under the leadership of former Law Minister Kamal Hossain (1972 – 1975). However, after elections, the government intensified persecution, imposed severe restrictions on media, including social media, and disqualified opposition candidates. The election was the most manipulated election in the history of the nation, due to the fact that the Election Commission, the ruling party, the administration, and the law-enforcement agencies including the military worked together to ensure a victory of the AL. Khaleda Zia was convicted ahead of the election and jailed, while her son and “heir apparent,” Tareque Rahman, has remained in self-exile in London after he was convicted in several cases. In May 2020, Khaleda Zia’s sentence was suspended due to her deteriorating health, on the condition that she can neither travel nor participate in political activities. Her party remained fragmented due to a lack of leadership.

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said that Bangladesh is a mature democracy capable of conducting elections and a peaceful transition of power, but instead previous polls have been marked by violence, attacks on the opposition, and voter intimidation. These recent cases of political attacks and arrests set an ominous tone for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

More or less the attitudes of the ruling party and the opposition should be changed in order to save Bangladesh from further violence and political unrest. The situation which was seen in Bangladesh during previous elections if repeated in the forthcoming elections, there would be nothing left which could save Bangladesh as democratic state anymore. Moreover, Human Rights Watch advised Bangladesh that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as Awami League and BNP party leaders, should condemn political violence and call on their supporters to respect the right of all Bangladeshis to safely and peacefully gather, and to run for office without fear. Furthermore, International human rights law calls for authorities to uphold free expression and peaceful assembly. The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, says in its General comment No. 37, concerning the right to peaceful assembly, that states have an obligation to “respect and ensure” the right of peaceful assembly without discrimination, and to allow such assemblies to “take place without unwarranted interference.” In case “an assembly provokes or may provoke a hostile reaction from members of the public against participants,” the state has a duty to allow the assembly to go ahead and to protect participants.

It was viewed that Bangladesh law enforcement is under increased scrutiny following US human rights sanctions and with parliamentary elections on the horizon. Diplomats in Bangladesh should raise concerns publicly and privately that such repression threatens the conditions for a free and fair election.

Although there have been taken necessary steps in order to conduct fair elections in Bangladesh such as the formation of new election commission and insertion of EVMs, but yet there is need of smooth regulation and implementations of these steps till making sure of free and fair elections which are going to be conducted in next coming year. The law and order enforcement agencies should pay their role which should be very honest and loyal to the state while holding elections and election commission should also be kept in view to ensure its unbiased behavior while conducting elections and results should be acceptable for all and the leading party must be accepted by all the parties taking part in elections. This behavior could eradicate the political unrest and violence from the state and it could assure the unity in Bangladesh which could strengthen the Bangladesh in future.

BAGHDAD, 28 October 2022, (TON): Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government on Thursday ending over a year of deadlock, but still faces many challenges.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani,52, who previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of labor and social affairs, will head the new government.

Sundai’s picks for 21 ministries passed during a parliament vote on the Cabinet. He named the head of state-run South Gas Co. (SGC) Hayan Abdul Ghani as oil minister.

Thursday’s parliament session comes a year after an election in which populist Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr was the biggest winner but failed to rally support to form a government.

RIYADH, 28 October 2022, (TON): The Saudi Press Agency reported “King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.”

Iraq’s parliament approved a new government which will be led by Al-Sudani, 52.

The approval ends more than a year of political deadlock in the neighboring country.

Al-Sudani’s choice of 21 ministers passed during a parliament vote on who should make up the government.

LONDON, 28 October 2022, (TON): British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pulled out of attending the COP27 climate summit which begins in Egypt next month to focus on domestic issues, his office said.

Sunak became prime minister on Monday, and has delayed an autumn fiscal statement to Nov. 17 as he looks to tackle a cost-of-living crisis and restore credibility damaged in the short tenure of his predecessor Liz Truss.

A Downing Street spokesperson said “the Prime Minister is not expected to attend the summit in Egypt due to other pressing domestic commitments, including preparations for the autumn statement.”

RIYADH, 28 October 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “energy ministers of Saudi Arabia and France discussed strengthening bilateral relations.”

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman and Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French minister of energy transition, stressed the need to increase oil market stability.

They also agreed to continue close communication, and to strengthen co-operation to address emerging risks and challenges.

Both sides have confirmed that they would strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and highlighted the need to ensure secure and reliable supplies of energy into global markets, noting that the Kingdom continues to be a reliable partner and supplier of crude oil to France.

OTTAWA, 28 October 2022, (TON): Russia’s use of Iranian drones in Ukraine is “appalling,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, adding that the United States and allies would seek to block such shipments.

Russia has used the drones to “kill Ukrainian civilians and destroy the infrastructure they rely on for electricity, for water, for heat. It’s appalling,” Blinken said during a visit to Ottawa.

“Canada and the United States will keep working with our allies and partners to expose, to deter and to counter Iran’s provision of these weapons,” he vowed.

Kyiv and its Western allies have repeatedly accused Moscow of using Iranian-made drones in attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks.

Ukraine has said around 400 Iranian drones have already been used against the civilian population of Ukraine, and Moscow has ordered around 2,000.

WASHINGTON, 28 October 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comment that he had no intention of using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

Putin, in a speech earlier in the day, played down a nuclear standoff with the West, insisting Russia had not threatened to use nuclear weapons and had only responded to nuclear blackmail from Western leaders.

Biden said in an interview “if he has no intention, why does he keep talking about it? Why is he talking about the ability to use a tactical nuclear weapon?”

Biden said “he’s been very dangerous in how he’s approached this.”

Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly said in recent weeks that Russia could use nuclear weapons to protect its territorial integrity, remarks interpreted in the West as implicit threats to use them to defend parts of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed.

DHAKA, 28 October 2022, (TON): The British High Commission in Dhaka organised a discussion with representatives from the Bangladesh government, policymakers, NGOs, and youth organisations on how to work together in building momentum for solutions to climate change in Bangladesh.

A press release issued by British high commission said “the discussion was held at the Residence of the British High Commissioner where young climate change activists from Bangladesh Youth Environment Initiative shared their ideas with climate experts and policy influencers.”

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said "as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Bangladesh is playing a key role internationally both in prompting high emitting countries to be more ambitious, as well as setting the example in building resilience."

The envoy said “the UK and Bangladesh are partnered closely in the run up to COP26 to raise global ambition and both the countries continue to work closely to turn commitments into action.”

DHAKA, 28 October 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and Japan want to elevate the bilateral relations to strategic partnership level during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to Japan.

The prime minister is scheduled to visit Japan from November 29 to December 1, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The planned visit was discussed when the Director General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arima Yutaka met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in Dhaka.

At the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral relations between the two countries.

KYIV, 28 October 2022, (TON): Ukrainian troops are holding out against repeated attacks by Russian forces in two eastern towns while those at the southern front are poised to battle for the strategic Kherson region, which Russia appears to be reinforcing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Wednesday evening video address that there would be good news from the front but he gave no details.

He did not mention what was happening in Kherson, which officials and military analysts have predicted will be one of the most consequential battles of the war since Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago.

Zelensky said “the most severe fighting in eastern Ukraine was taking place near Avdiivka, outside Donetsk, and Bakhmut.”