All three major political parties are going to face internal rival issue in Sylhet division as nomination seekers substantially surpass the number of constituencies.

Ruling Awami League has around 96 nomination seekers and the BNP 72 in the 19 constituencies in the division. Some 38 aspirants are seeking nomination from Jatiya Party and eight from Jamaat-e-Islami.

In Sylhet, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, who was elected twice in 2008 and 2014 from Sylhet-1 constituency, had earlier said he would not run.

His brother former diplomat Abdul Momen is among several others vying for the party ticket there.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Khandaker Muktadir and BNP central committee member Dr Shariar Hossain Chowdhury are vying for nomination in this seat.

As Jatiya Party does not have any strong candidate here, its local activists want party chief HM Ershad to contest the poll.

Jamaat is also in the race with its Secretary General Shafiqur Rahman likely to contest the election as independent or as part of the BNP-led alliance.

Missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali was elected from Sylhet-2 where his wife Tahsina Tusdir Luna is a candidate now. Each of AL, BNP and JP has at least two aspirants here.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid is the incumbent lawmaker of Sylhet-6 where he is likely to face at least five intra-party candidates.

As many as 27 AL, 24 BNP, 12 JP and five Jamaat candidates have so far been in the electoral race in the district.

In Sunamganj, Dr Joya Sengupta, wife of late AL leader Suranjit Sengupta, is a prospective candidate for Sunamganj-2. But, she might face challenges from six candidates from within.

Similarly, incumbent lawmaker Azizus Samad Azad Don, son of veteran AL leader Abdus Samad Azad, is trying to get party ticket for Sunamganj-3. He has to face challenges from three other intra-party competitors.

Twenty-four AL, 20 BNP, six JP and one Jamaat aspirants are campaigning for party's nomination in the district.

In Moulvibazar, incumbent lawmaker Syeda Saira Mohsin, wife of late social welfare minister Syed Mohsin Ali, is likely to contest from Maulvibazar-3 with AL ticket where M Naser Rahman, president of district unit BNP and son of late finance minister M Saifur Rahman may become her main rival.

However, both of them may face intra-party rivals, as several candidates of both parties are trying to get party ticket there.

As many as 19 AL, 15 BNP, five JP and two Jamaat candidates are trying to get nomination in the district.

Habiganj, with four parliamentary seats, is considered a stronghold of ruling AL. Dewan Farid Gazi of AL won three times in 1996, 2001 and 2008 from Habiganj-1. But, JP took the seat in 2014.

AL lawmakers Abdul Majid Khan and Abu Jahir was elected successively in 2008 and 2014 from Habiganj-2 and Habiganj-3 respectively, while AL candidates won in all the elections since 1991 in Habiganj-4.

However, all the AL candidates along with BNP aspirants have to face intra-party rivals in getting nomination. At least 26 AL, 13 BNP and nine JP aspirants are in the race in Habiganj.

[Our Sylhet correspondent Dwoha Chowdhury contributed to this report.]

The presence of observers in the upcoming election will be thinner compared with that in 2008, as both domestic and international organisations are unwilling to deploy strong workforce mainly due to fund crunch.

The European Union, for example, will not send any election monitoring team this year.

Around 1.6 lakh domestic and 600 international observers monitored the December 29, 2008, election.

In the 11th parliamentary election set for December 30, it may come down to 40,000, said senior officials of several election monitoring groups and organisations.

However, the number of voters and the polling stations is much higher this time than in 2008.

In the 2008 polls, 35,263 polling centres were set up for 8.1 crore voters. In the upcoming election, around 42,000 polling stations will be set up for more than 10.41 crore electorates.

Election observers contribute greatly to making sure elections are free and fair. Their presence in large numbers is therefore very crucial, said M Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government.

"In our country, a lot of disputes arise centring on elections. This is why deployment of fewer observers is not a good sign. Many polling stations may remain uncovered as a result,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Currently, 118 organisations are registered with the Election Commission to observe elections. The EC asked them to apply by Sunday, specifying the number of observers they would deploy.

Although a senior EC official said some 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh observers may be deployed, senior officials of election monitoring organisations said the number would be much less.

"In the 2008 polls, we deployed around 70,000 observers. This time, we are planning to field 15,000,"    said Abdul Awal, chairman of the Election Working Group (EWG), an alliance of 23 local organisations that monitor election under the banner of EWG.

"We have decided to deploy fewer observers due to unavailability of funds," he told The Daily Star yesterday after attending a briefing for local election observers organised by the Election Commission.

"In my estimate, around 40,000 observers may be deployed in the upcoming election,” he said, adding that training, logistic support and remuneration for observers require huge funds.

Asked about the reason behind the fund shortage, Awal said development partners were losing interest to fund election monitoring missions across the world. “This can be one reason.”

Their priorities for Bangladesh   are also changing. Many development partners are now channelling funds for the Rohingya refugees, he added.

Harun-Or-Rashid, chief executive of Light House, another election monitoring organisation, echoed his views.

His organisation deployed 5,500 observers in 2008. "This time, we are preparing to deploy only 800 because of fund shortage,” he said. 

Also, in 2008 their observers were stationed at polling centres. This year, they will deploy only mobile observers, who will move from one polling station to another.

Mostafa Kamal Akond, assistant director and principal information officer of Coast Trust, said they fielded 3,900 observers in 2008. "But this time, we plan to deploy 1,100 for   fund crunch,” he told this paper yesterday. 

The presence of international observers will also be thinner.

Explaining why they would not send any election monitoring team this time, EU Ambassador Rensje Teerink told the DW on October 31, "That's because sending a credible observer mission is a very big operation. It requires a big number of observers and months of preparation. So, in budgetary terms, it's quite expensive. And it takes a lot of effort and preparation.

"We have therefore decided not to send a team this time round. That doesn't mean that we're not going to follow these elections. We will definitely be paying close attention to the developments in the country."

In 2008, the EU sent about 100 observers.

A senior EC official said the Commonwealth may send a small team. Some embassies and international organisations stationed in Dhaka may deploy some of their staffers to monitor the election process.

'DON'T TALK TO MEDIA'

EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed issued a stern warning to the local election observers yesterday, asking them not to talk to the media on the voting day.

"Stand like a statue inside the polling station and observe the voting process. You cannot talk to the press no matter what,” he told the briefing for the observers at the EC Bhaban in the capital.

Representatives from most election monitoring organisations were present.

Helal also asked them not to enter the polling stations with mobile phones or take any photos inside the stations.

If they find any irregularities, they can inform the EC instantly about it and can publish those in their reports. Observers must be neutral and they cannot do anything to favour any candidate, according to the EC instructions.

Also, election monitoring organisations cannot deploy any member of a political party as an observer.

At the briefing, representatives from a number of organisations    said election observers needed to keep their organisations updated during voting.

"If they cannot carry their mobile phones, how will they contact their senior officials?" asked Harun-Or-Rashid of Light House.

In response, the EC secretary said they would consider the matter.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who wrapped up weeklong dialogues with political parties on the next parliamentary polls yesterday, had been part of the eventful history of both successful and failed talks.

Records of talks held in around last three decades since the restoration of democracy in the country show that crisis was resolved and political situation improved whenever dialogues between political parties became successful.

However, whenever talks collapsed, it had disastrous consequences. On every occasion, the dialogue results cost the country's people, economy and democracy dearly. It happened between 1994-96, in 2006 and 2013.

Opposition parties led by Hasina had launched vigorous street agitations twice while those led by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia took to the streets in 2013.

As the top leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance of BNP and several other political parties, were not happy with the outcome of their second round of dialogue with the PM yesterday, it will hold a rally in Rajshahi tomorrow.

After the fall of autocratic ruler Gen HM Ershad in 1990, the first successful talks among the political parties paved the way for a smooth transition to democracy. They reached an agreement and requested then chief justice Shahabuddin Ahmed to lead the interim government after Ershad's resignation as president.

The Shahabuddin government was successful in leading a peaceful transition to democracy through holding a free and fair national election in February 1991. Parliamentary democracy was restored in the country.

There are other instances of holding successful talks back then.

But only four years after the restoration of democracy, the political parties failed to resolve a deadlock through talks.

From September 1994 to January 1996, the country's eminent citizens, foreign dignitaries, including a special envoy of the then Commonwealth secretary general and diplomats in Dhaka, mediated a series of negotiations between the then ruling BNP and the opposition AL to resolve the political crisis over the introduction of an election-time government.

As the negotiations failed, the country witnessed a massive street violence and eventually a one-sided parliamentary election in February 1996. The polls were boycotted by the AL and its allies who had been agitating for the introduction of a nonpartisan caretaker government system.

In 2004, a political crisis developed over increasing the retirement age of Supreme Court judges through a constitutional amendment. The amendment paved the way for then chief justice KM Hasan to become the chief adviser of the election-time caretaker government.

Under the leadership of Hasina, the then AL-led opposition alliance strongly rejected the amendment saying they would not accept Justice Hasan as the chief adviser.

Towards the fag end of its five-year tenure, the BNP-led government agreed to sit for talks with the AL to break the political deadlock. Then BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and AL general secretary Abdul Jalil held several rounds of talks at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. But the talks failed to resolve the crisis.

The tenure of the BNP government came to an end with the crisis remaining unresolved. There was violence in the street.

Then president Iajuddin Ahmed opened talks with political parties to end the impasse.

The BNP rejected the AL's proposal for finding an alternative to Justice Hasan. All of a sudden, Iajuddin, on the BNP's advice, assumed the office of the chief adviser, ignoring the constitutional provision. The crisis worsened further.

At one stage, the AL-led alliance pulled out of the national election scheduled for January 22, 2007, and intensified street agitation. The party announced that it would resist the election. The country plunged into political chaos resulting in the declaration of the state of emergency on January 11.

The crisis over the election-time government prevailed in 2011 when the AL government, led by Hasina, abolished the caretaker government system by amending the constitution.

The constitutional amendment not only allowed the AL to stay in power during the national election, but also allowed all lawmakers to seek re-election staying in office.

This time, the BNP-led alliance, under the leadership of Khaleda, took to the streets demanding restoration of the caretaker government system. The AL rejected the demand. A political deadlock continued in the country with an escalation in violence.

Early in December 2013, the United Nations sent its key official Oscar Fernández-Taranco to Dhaka for a four-day visit to discuss with political leaders a mutually acceptable formula to hold an “inclusive, non-violent and credible” election.

He held several rounds of talks with AL and BNP leaders. But the dialogues failed to break the deadlock, resulting in a one-sided parliamentary election in January 2014.

Timeline: failed talks 

1994-1996: Crisis over introduction of caretaker government

Sept 26, 1994: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina formally agree to hold talks mediated by Commonwealth Secretary-General  Emeka Anyaoku

Oct 2, 1994: Sheikh Hasina told Emeka Anyaoku: "Awami League is ready to sit in dialogue but the government is not cordial to create the environment for talks."

Oct 5, 1994: Commonwealth secretary-general nominates Sir Ninian Stephen as his special envoy to mediate dialogue. Emeka Anyaoku meets PM Khaleda Zia

Oct 13, 1994: Sir Ninian Stephen arrives in Dhaka

Oct 25, 1994: The much-talked about dialogue between government and opposition fails

Oct 31, 1994: Sir Ninian Stephen requests Sheikh Hasina not to announce final programme for agitation for the sake of dialogue

Nov 12, 1994: Clash between AL and BNP in Natore leaves 3 bullet-hit

Dec 28, 1994: MPs of AL, Jatiya Party, NDP, Jamaat-e-Islami resign en-mass from parliament

Feb 18, 1995: Opposition turns down Prof AQM Badruddozza Chowdhury's proposal for dialogue

Sep 4, 1995: US Assistant Secretary of State Robin L Raphel arrives in Dhaka

Sep 5, 1995: Robin Raphel holds meeting with Hasina and other political leaders

Sep 7, 1995: Robin Raphel meets Khaleda

Sep 16, 1995: 72-hour hartal enforced by opposition AL begins

Oct 16, 1995: 96-hour hartal enforced by opposition AL begins; two killed

Oct to Nov, 1995: Five eminent citizens including Rehman Sobhan and Barrister Ishtiaq Rahman meet with Khaleda and Hasina several times to break the political standoff

Jan 16, 1996: Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the US, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and Italy hold meeting with Hasina and Khaleda

Feb 15, 1996: Sixth parliamentary elections held without opposition party

2006-2007: Crisis over appointment of chief adviser of caretaker government 

July 13, 2006: Businessmen seek dialogue between BNP and Awami League

Sep 5, 2006: PM Khaleda Zia at a rally in Noakhali: "There are many political parties which will participate in the election regardless of whether the opposition party takes part in the polls."

Sep 6, 2006: Awami League led 14-party besieges Election Commission. Dhanmondi turns into battlefield.

Sep 14, 2006: PM Khaleda calls upon two secretary generals of BNP and AL to sit in dialogue

Sep 18, 2006: Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at a rally in Paltan: "Dhaka will be paralysed if [former] Justice KM Hasan takes over as chief of caretaker government. Come to Dhaka with whatever belongings you have."

Oct 4, 2006: PM Khaleda asks to reach consensus immediately. Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina says: "Caretaker government might be formed in line with the constitution, but no Hasan. Accept people's demand."

Oct 5, 2006: Reform-dialogue begins. AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil hands over 21-point proposal to BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Oct 10, 2006: Dialogue suspended until October 16.

Oct 25, 2006: PM Khaleda Zia's address to the nation: "There is nothing to be disappointed about if dialogue fails. The constitution is the safeguard."

Oct 25, 2006: BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan declares that it is not possible to reach consensus without KM Hasan.

Oct 27, 2006: Oath taking ceremony suspended as Justice KM Hasan "falls sick".

Oct 28, 2006: Former Chief Justice KM Hasan 

declines to head the caretaker government "in the interest of the people."

President Iajuddin Ahmed expresses his willingness to assume the role of chief adviser at a meeting with BNP, AL and other political parties. AL rejects the 

proposal outright.

At least 12 people were killed and about 2,000 wounded in an escalation of violence across the country.

PM Khaleda Zia urges opposition to accept whatever decision the president takes on caretaker chief.

Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina says the president should follow the constitution.

Nov 15, 2006: Khaleda Zia: "Constitution must be upheld at any cost."

Nov and Dec , 2006: A diplomatic circle known as "Coffee Group" holds meeting with different political parties including AL and BNP

Jan 10, 2007: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issues a statement calling on all sides to compromise and refrain from violence

Jan 11, 2007: President Iajuddin Ahmed resigns from post of chief adviser declaring a state of emergency in the country

2013: Crisis over restoration of caretaker government

May 10, 2013: A five-member UN delegation led by Oscar Fernández-Taranco, assistant UN secretary-general for political affairs, arrives in Dhaka

May 11, 2013: Taranco holds meeting with PM Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, urging them to reach a consensus on holding a free and fair national election

May 12, 2013: Taranco meets Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

Nov 30, 2013: 3 killed on the first day of 72-hour blockade

Dec 4, 2013: Indian Foreign Secretary meets Hasina, Khaleda and HM Ershad

Dec 6, 2013: Five-member UN team, including Taranco, arrives in Dhaka

Dec 7, 2013: Taranco meets Hasina and Khaleda

Dec 8, 2013: Taranco meets JP Chief Ershad, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and PM's adviser Gowher Rizvi

Dec 10, 2013: AL and BNP sit in a meeting to discuss crisis

Dec 11, 2013: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calls PM Hasina over phone

Dec 12, 2013: JP Chief Ershad has been picked up

Dec 13, 2013: 128 MPs elected uncontested

Ban Ki-Moon calls the President

AL and BNP sit for third time to end political crisis

Dec 17, 2013: 72-hour blockade begins

Dec 24, 2013: BNP Chair Khaleda urges people to march towards Dhaka from every corner of the country

A cop killed in arson attack in bus; AL MP among 15 hurt in clash

Dec 26, 2013: Bomb attack on cops again, 1 killed in Rajshahi

Dec 30, 2013: British High Commissioner Robert Gibson meets Khaleda 

Jan 1, 2014: Non-stop blockade starts

Jan 3, 2014: 2 dead, 8 burnt in blockade

Jan 5, 2014: 10th general election held amid intense localised violence leading to at least 18 deaths

Abdul Awal, 58, cannot hold back his excitement as for the first time in his life he would be voting in the 11th parliamentary polls on December 30.

Awal is one of the newly registered voters of 59 former enclaves in Lalmonirhat that became Bangladesh's territory through the implementation of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) in 2015.

“It feels like a dream that my vote will be counted for selecting Bangladesh's government,” said Awal, a resident of Bhitorkuti under Kulaghat union.

Awal recalled how he used to visit the polling centres to witness the festivity centring elections during his childhood. But he never disclosed his identity during those times. “This time I will walk to the centre proudly and be a part of the event.”

Of the 59 former enclaves, which were Indian territory only a few years ago, two are in Kulaghat, two in Gotamari union, and the rest are in Jongra, Kuchlibari, Burimari, Srirampur, Jagatber, and Bawra unions of Patgram upazila.

Of the 10,317 people living in these former enclaves, 6.500 have been registered as voters, according to the district election office.

During a visit to Kulaghat on Monday, this correspondent found most areas covered with posters of the Awami League. Posters of Jatiya Oikyafront were seen at a few places.

Jatiya Party Co-chairman GM Quader is contesting from the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance against Lalmonirhat BNP President Asadul Habib Dulu in Lalmonirhat-3, which includes Kulaghat union.

Both the candidates were trying to drum up support but they did not show up when the flood hit the area hard in 2014, said some of the locals.

“During the floods, no-one offered a single piece of bread but now they are coming to us seeking votes,” said Ayub Ali, a resident of Banshpochai, Kalughat.

Ayub, however, showed this correspondent the smart card, vulnerable group feeding (VGF) card, and fair price card that he received following the dissolution of the enclaves.

Pointing at the smart card, he said, “Look, the card says I am a Bangladeshi. I will cast my ballot using this card.”

The 50-year-old said his relatives living in the mainland once used to call his family “enclave people” but now no-one dares to do so.

Following the implementation of the LBA on July 31, 2015, the government set up houses, gave electricity connections, distributed VGF cards, VGD (Vulnerable Group development) cards, placed solar panels, constructed roads, tube-wells, toilets, established schools and clinics in some of the remote areas.

Many residents were unhappy as they did not have a candidate contesting with the electoral symbol “boat”, the Awami League's symbol.

Shahtun Khatun, 55, said she was “finally freed from the curse of enclave” because of the initiative by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Alluding to GM Quader, she said, “Nevertheless, I will vote for her [Hasina's] candidate, I will pick plough [election symbol of Jatiya Party],” said the resident of Bhitorkuti in Kalurghat.

Asadul Hasib Dulu, president of Lalmonirhat BNP and Oikyafront nominee, pledged employment opportunities. Dulu said, “We will focus on education of the residents, including taking responsibility of meritorious but poor students.”

In Lalmonirhat-1, Lalmonirhat Awami League President Motahar Hossain is running. The constituency has 55 former enclaves.

If elected, development of infrastructures would continue in the areas, said Motahar. The Awami League would set up schools, colleges, and create employment opportunities, he added.