CA, EC talk polls preparations
Friday, 17 October 2008
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed had talks with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda and two other election commissioners on preparations for elections Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
After the meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office, Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said they primarily focused on the December national elections.
"We apprised the Chief Adviser (CA) of our overall preparation for the national polls," Sakhawat told the news agency.
Registration of political parties and the tasks of the Election Commission (EC) were also on the agenda.
Wrapping up exams at all educational institutions by November, appointment and training of election officials, and the law and order situation were also discussed at the meeting.
The EC already extended the deadline for political parties to apply for registration by October 20.
As of Thursday, 29 political parties including Awami League (AL) had applied for registration.
BNP and its allies, however, have so far refused to take a decision on registration, saying it would not be possible before further talks and consensus with the government on several debated issues.
BNP leaders said that they expected to have another dialogue with the government before October 20.
Sakhawat Hussain said that the state of emergency came up for discussion at the meeting, with the CA stressing that the government would soon take a decision on the matter.
Earlier in the week, the CEC had said that any specific clauses in Emergency Powers Rules to which parties objected, they should discuss directly with the government in dialogue.
The national election is set for December 18, and Upazila polls for December 24 and December 28.
The CEC had said that the Commission would announce the polls schedule by November 2.
After the meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office, Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said they primarily focused on the December national elections.
"We apprised the Chief Adviser (CA) of our overall preparation for the national polls," Sakhawat told the news agency.
Registration of political parties and the tasks of the Election Commission (EC) were also on the agenda.
Wrapping up exams at all educational institutions by November, appointment and training of election officials, and the law and order situation were also discussed at the meeting.
The EC already extended the deadline for political parties to apply for registration by October 20.
As of Thursday, 29 political parties including Awami League (AL) had applied for registration.
BNP and its allies, however, have so far refused to take a decision on registration, saying it would not be possible before further talks and consensus with the government on several debated issues.
BNP leaders said that they expected to have another dialogue with the government before October 20.
Sakhawat Hussain said that the state of emergency came up for discussion at the meeting, with the CA stressing that the government would soon take a decision on the matter.
Earlier in the week, the CEC had said that any specific clauses in Emergency Powers Rules to which parties objected, they should discuss directly with the government in dialogue.
The national election is set for December 18, and Upazila polls for December 24 and December 28.
The CEC had said that the Commission would announce the polls schedule by November 2.