Next general elections will be held by end of Dec 2008: CEC

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CEC Dr ATM Shamsul Huda addressing the view exchanging meeting in Chittagong Sunday. — Focusbangla Photo

CHITTAGONG, Sept 30 (UNB): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda has reaffirmed that the next general elections would be held by end December 2008.
"The election must be held within the stipulated time. If possible, the election could be held earlier but it will never be delayed," he said.
The CEC said this while exchanging views with the government officials and local elite on voters' list here Sunday.
Among others, GOC 24 Infantry Division Maj Gen Abdul Mubin, Divisional Commissioner Hussain Jamal, Chittagong City Corporation acting Mayor Monjurul Alam, Signal-6 Battalion Commander of Chittagong Cantonment Col Kazi Arif and Deputy Election Commissioner Azaharul Haq were present at the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner M Ashraf Shamim presided over the meeting.
CEC Shamsul Huda said that Election Commission (EC) would identify the refugees living in the country and take necessary action so that they cannot enrol their names in the voters' list and take part in the general elections.
Asked about the proposal placed by different political parties to disqualify the religion-based political parties for registration, he said: "It's a political matter. Politicians will solve the matter politically. It's not part of the EC's activities."
Mentioning the voters' list of 2006, Shamsul Huda said the number of voters in the voters' list of 2006 was 72.50 million. But an American organisation, in a survey, found 12.50 million voters as fake.
"But this time, no false voter will be enlisted as voters' list will be prepared with photographs and finger prints," he pointed out.
Moreover, there has a provision of punishment if anyone tried to cheat in this connection, he added.
The CEC mentioned that about 300,000 data entry operators have been employed under the voters' list preparation project across the country.
He gave instructions to the officials concerned to upgrade the voters' list with those who will attain 18 years of age on January 1, 2008.
GOC Maj Gen Abdul Mubin, who is in-charge of voters' list registration work in the port city, said the EC is determined to complete work on voters' registration and identity (ID) cards within the stipulated time for the interest of the nation.
Preliminary work on the preparation of voters' list in 41 wards of the port city begins tomorrow (Monday).
Local EC sources said 5,898 data collectors and supervisors would be given training up to October 18 and door to door distribution of information forms and their collection will be conducted between October 22 and November 4.
Work on taking photographs and data entry will be done in one and half months beginning from November 5.