EC may consider deferral of DCC election on logical grounds
Friday, 16 April 2010
Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain said Election Commission (EC) may consider the deferral on the basis of a logical explanation in favour of the deferral, reports bdnews24.com.
An LGRD official requesting anonymity said the government wing might cite the increased number of DCC wards (from 90 to 92), incomplete voter lists and the unresolved issue of constituency delimitation as reasons for deferring the polls.
The issue of redrawing the boundaries might lead to legal complications, he said adding that shortage of workforce could be presented as another barrier holding elections in time.
Deputy election commissioner of Dhaka division Lutfur Rahman claimed that the increase of wards would not create any problems in the voter list.
He said, "EC has necessary preparations. It would be possible to take the necessary measures for holding the elections once the EC announces the schedule."
CEGIS Executive Dire-ctor Giasuddin Ahmed Chowdhury said, "Delimi-tation work of the wards is underway." "It will end within a month," he added.
DCC went to polls on April 24, 2002 and the tenure of those elected expired almost three years back.
Chief Election Commis-sioner ATM Shamsul Huda told journalists Monday that EC would announce the schedule if the government's feedback does not reach it by April 18.
He said the delay in DCC polls would create many problems, adding that the EC was keen on holding the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) elections by June 25.
Asked if there were any legal obligations to hold the city corporation polls within a stipulated time, EC lawyer Shahdin Malik said, "No, there aren't."
Sakhawat Hossain said the EC had initiated the DCC polls process on its own initiative since the tenure had expired.
When asked if there was any conflict between the government and the EC, he answered with a question: "Why should there be any?
"We have informed the government of EC's decision and now the government will clarify its position formally."
BNP standing committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said Tuesday, "We will give our reaction following the EC's decision on the election. We do not want to give any statement before that."
An LGRD official requesting anonymity said the government wing might cite the increased number of DCC wards (from 90 to 92), incomplete voter lists and the unresolved issue of constituency delimitation as reasons for deferring the polls.
The issue of redrawing the boundaries might lead to legal complications, he said adding that shortage of workforce could be presented as another barrier holding elections in time.
Deputy election commissioner of Dhaka division Lutfur Rahman claimed that the increase of wards would not create any problems in the voter list.
He said, "EC has necessary preparations. It would be possible to take the necessary measures for holding the elections once the EC announces the schedule."
CEGIS Executive Dire-ctor Giasuddin Ahmed Chowdhury said, "Delimi-tation work of the wards is underway." "It will end within a month," he added.
DCC went to polls on April 24, 2002 and the tenure of those elected expired almost three years back.
Chief Election Commis-sioner ATM Shamsul Huda told journalists Monday that EC would announce the schedule if the government's feedback does not reach it by April 18.
He said the delay in DCC polls would create many problems, adding that the EC was keen on holding the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) elections by June 25.
Asked if there were any legal obligations to hold the city corporation polls within a stipulated time, EC lawyer Shahdin Malik said, "No, there aren't."
Sakhawat Hossain said the EC had initiated the DCC polls process on its own initiative since the tenure had expired.
When asked if there was any conflict between the government and the EC, he answered with a question: "Why should there be any?
"We have informed the government of EC's decision and now the government will clarify its position formally."
BNP standing committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said Tuesday, "We will give our reaction following the EC's decision on the election. We do not want to give any statement before that."