Regn, upazila, JS polls issues to be finalised after talks with BNP: CEC

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said Sunday the commission would finalise the issues regarding the registration of parties and upazila and parliamentary elections after discussion with the BNP, reports UNB.
"We're waiting for communication from the BNP," he told journalists in reply to a question at the Election Commission (EC) secretariat in the afternoon after a meeting with a delegation of Sushashoner Jonnyo Nagorik (SHUJON), a civil society platform.
Replying to another query, the CEC said the commission could sit for dialogue with the BNP any time. "The dialogue can be held even today."
He told a questioner that the EC would have to listen to the voices of all political parties before taking any decision about the elections. "It's necessary to listen to all… once I've been rebuked for not listening to them (BNP)," Huda said.
The CEC reiterated that no political parties without registration with the Commission would be allowed to contest in the upcoming general election. "It's impossible to hold election without registration," he said, replying to a question.
Earlier, in the morning, the full commission held a meeting with some civil society members discussing how information in the candidate's affidavit can be easily provided.
Replying to a journalist's query during the meeting, Huda said the EC at this moment has been emphasising on holding the general election.
He, however, said the commission is also very keen to hold the upazila elections. "We're very active towards holding the upazila polls," he said adding that the commission wanted to do something that would be acceptable to all.
Asked which election would be held first-parliamentary or upazila, the CEC said, "You'll know very soon."
Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain and EC Secretary M Humaun Kabir, among others, were present at the meeting.
The SHUJON delegation included Badiul Alam Majumder, Syed Abul Maksud, Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid, M Hafiz Uddin, Iftekharuzzaman, Shyamol Dutta, Munni Saha, Advocate Salma Ali, Taleya Rahman and Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah.