Head of the visiting Commonwealth election observer group Cassam Uteem yesterday hoped that normal democratic life would be restored in Bangladesh through December 29 elections.

BNP Chairperson on poll campaign in Bogra

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday warned that people of the country would not accept any attempt to sabotage the forthcoming parliamentary elections on December 29. She said any attempt to sabotage the polls will be catastrophic.

"Conspiracy is under way to foil the elections," she said at an election meeting in Jessore and Khulna.

The polls race in six constituencies in Rajshahi has drawn candidates ranging from unemployed persons to millionaire businessmen and from below secondary education to PhD degree holders.

They include some 15 businessmen, four of them millionaire, eight teachers and six lawyers.

The four new faces fielded by Awami League (AL) and BNP in four constituencies in Tangail will have to fight strong rivals and rebel party candidates in the upcoming national elections.

Besides strong BNP rivals, AL's two new faces in Tangail-3 (Ghtail) and Tangail-6 (Nagarpur-Delduar) will face rebel party colleagues who are in the race as independent candidates.

The Government asked security forces yesterday to be on alert against underground militant groups trying to disrupt elections scheduled for December 29. The Armed Forces will be deployed countrywide from December 20, ahead of the national elections, Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed said yesterday in Chittagong.

Burying their differences over nomination in Chittagong-8 constituency, Chittagong Mayor and city unit Awami League President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Vice President Nurul Islam had a cordial meeting on Wednesday night, much to the relief of party supporters just 25 days ahead of the parliamentary election.

BNP rebel, JP man set to make hay

There is no candidate of Awami League and BNP in Moulvibazar-2 (Kulaura and four union of Kamalganj) constituency in the coming national election.

For the first time in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), an indigenous woman is contesting from Rangamati constituency in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Moitree Chakma, wife of Retired district joint judge Dipen Dewan, is in the polls race as an independent candidate.

She, along with her husband, submitted her nomination paper on the last day set for this by the Election Commission.

Six rebel candidates of BNP and Awami League have submitted their nomination papers in three out of five constituencies in Chandpur. Of them five are BNP rebels and one from Awami League.