Bangladesh government has opened a media centre at a luxury hotel in Dhaka to relay election information to journalists on the day of December 30 election.

Top officials of the information and foreign ministry were present at the launching of the media centre at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka in the morning.

Abdul Malek, secretary to Ministry of Information said, the centre will provide all types of information till December 31 midnight to foreign and local journalists and election observers.

Md Shahidul Haque, foreign affairs secretary, said two hundred foreign observers and 50 overseas journalists who will be catered information from the centre.

Besides, the centre will provide security and visa related necessary information as well as online facilities to the overseas journalists and election observers.

The election result provided by the EC will also be displayed through Bangladesh Television (BTV) at the media centre.  

Five officials and staffs of the information ministry will work at the media centre round the clock. The media centre will keep communication with the EC through two hot lines.

In today’s episode of Daily Star Election Talks, hosted the newspaper’s Planning Editor Shakhawat Liton, two students of Dhaka University—Sumaya Jahid and Saiful Islam—shed light on the aspirations and thoughts of the young generation over the December 30 elections.

What kind of election the young generation is expecting? In response, Sumaya Jahid says, “We obviously want a free and fair election and demand a congenial atmosphere to cast votes.”

In her opinion, the young generation wants to cast their votes peacefully.

Another student of Dhaka University, Saiful Islam says, “We express our opinion through vote only once in five years. If that space is shrunk or we cannot cast our votes, it will be much frustrating.”

In this election, around 2.5 crore youths are going to exercise their franchise for the first time. The political parties have come with different kinds of pledges to woo the young voters. The major parties have promised that they would ensure education and employment of the youths. Even, the Election Commission has sought the attention of the young generation in an advertisement.

Regarding the pledges of the major parties, Sumaya says a political party committed to creating employment opportunity for the youths in its manifesto; the party is now in power. However, have they been able to alleviate the unemployment problem in reality?

Asked whether the society of youths are disinterested to politics, Saiful said, “If the youths are really apathetic to politics, it is because of the politicians’ presentation of politics that is making the youths to be nonchalant to politics.”

Sumaya expects, whichever party forms the government through the election, will improve the education system. The new government will prevent question paper leaks, bring reformation in the job sector and reduce the unemployment rate, she hopes.

Echoing her peer, Saiful stresses on the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the constitution and expansion of employment opportunity out of Dhaka.

To know more, watch the full video here!

In today’s episode of ‘The Election Talks 2018’, Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of Center for Policy Dialogue's (CPD), talks with The Daily Star about the upcoming election.

She sheds light on democratic practices in Bangladesh and sustainable development on a one-to-one with Shakhawat Liton, planning editor of The Daily Star.

“Fair election is very important for economic development of a country. Excellence through competition – the democratic process – is also much needed for politics,” she said.

Upholding an economic example, she underlined on the situation of the people if a monopoly is to arise. “Similarly, when one party is in power, a strong opposition can ensure accountability.”

There remains a problem on the way to ensure development’s sustainability and inclusive if this culture does not exist, she added.

Watch the video to know more!