EC reschedules polls of JS women seats, by-polls
Monday, 2 March 2009
In view of the current situation in the country, the Election Commission (EC) has rescheduled the elections to the reserved women seats in the Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) and the by-elections to seven vacated parliamentary constituencies, reports UNB.
According to the revised schedule, elections of women reserved seats in the Parliament will be held on March 30, while the by-elections of vacated parliamentary seats will be held on April 2.
"It has become essential for the EC to reschedule the elections due to the prevailing situation in the country," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at the EC office Sunday.
As per the new schedule, he said, the EC has fixed March 12 for the submission of nomination papers for the polls to women reserved seats in the Parliament, while March 15 for the scrutiny of nomination papers.
The Commissioner said the last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed on March 19 (until 2:00 pm).
Sohul Hussain said the EC has re-fixed March 9 as the deadline for filing nomination papers for the parliamentary by-elections, while the scrutiny of nomination papers would take place on March 11.
The last date for withdrawal of candidatures for the parliamentary by-elections has been fixed on March 17.
Of the seven parliamentary seats, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President HM Ershad each vacated two of their three seats they won in the December 29 parliamentary elections, while another seat was vacated by veteran Awami League leader Zillur Rahman following his election as the President.
Replying to a question, the Election Commissioner said the elections to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) would not be held on the date as planned earlier because of the circumstances prevailing in the country.
"We'll think of the DCC polls after a few days. It will take time to take the decision. Most likely the polls will have to be deferred," he said.
Asked about the judicial inquiry into the postponed upazila polls, Sohul Hussain informed that this would start soon after completing the process by the Ministry of Law and the Supreme Court.
"We've already written a letter to the Ministry of Law in this regard. The inquiry will start after the Supreme Court nominates the judicial magistrates," he added.
According to the revised schedule, elections of women reserved seats in the Parliament will be held on March 30, while the by-elections of vacated parliamentary seats will be held on April 2.
"It has become essential for the EC to reschedule the elections due to the prevailing situation in the country," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at the EC office Sunday.
As per the new schedule, he said, the EC has fixed March 12 for the submission of nomination papers for the polls to women reserved seats in the Parliament, while March 15 for the scrutiny of nomination papers.
The Commissioner said the last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed on March 19 (until 2:00 pm).
Sohul Hussain said the EC has re-fixed March 9 as the deadline for filing nomination papers for the parliamentary by-elections, while the scrutiny of nomination papers would take place on March 11.
The last date for withdrawal of candidatures for the parliamentary by-elections has been fixed on March 17.
Of the seven parliamentary seats, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President HM Ershad each vacated two of their three seats they won in the December 29 parliamentary elections, while another seat was vacated by veteran Awami League leader Zillur Rahman following his election as the President.
Replying to a question, the Election Commissioner said the elections to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) would not be held on the date as planned earlier because of the circumstances prevailing in the country.
"We'll think of the DCC polls after a few days. It will take time to take the decision. Most likely the polls will have to be deferred," he said.
Asked about the judicial inquiry into the postponed upazila polls, Sohul Hussain informed that this would start soon after completing the process by the Ministry of Law and the Supreme Court.
"We've already written a letter to the Ministry of Law in this regard. The inquiry will start after the Supreme Court nominates the judicial magistrates," he added.