Rally, torch procession held in Dhaka over attacks on Udichi, Chhayanaut, media houses

Cultural group demands arrest of Hadi’s killers while calling for home minister’s resignation

A section of Udichi Shilpigosthi has organised a cultural rally in Dhaka in protest against what it describes as “planned criminal attacks”, vandalism and arson targeting the organisation’s central office, Chhayanaut, Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and other sites across Bangladesh.

The protest also included a torch procession under the banner of the Democratic Cultural Alliance.

The meeting agenda includes discussion of illegal firearm recovery, crackdowns by joint forces, and enforcement of the electoral code of conduct.

The EC has decided to deploy law-enforcing agencies for five days before and after the parliamentary polls and referendum. The forces will remain in the field from Feb 9 to Feb 13.

The EC will brief returning officers and other field officers on election management. Divisional, police, and deputy commissioners, DIGs, superintendents of police, and regional election officers have been called to the Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday.

The CEC announced the election schedule on Dec 11, setting the last date for submitting nomination papers, the scrutiny, the period for appeals and disposal, the last date for withdrawal, and the polling date.

The date for filing appeals and their disposal has been revised. The time to appeal against the returning officer’s decision has been reduced by two days, while the disposal period has been extended by two days.

In the revised notification, the period to file an appeal has been set from Jan 5 to Jan 9.

The period for disposal of appeals has been set from Jan 10 to Jan 18.