EC to announce JS polls schedule after finalisation of voter list: CA
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
KHULNA, Aug 26 (UNB): Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said Tuesday the Election Commission (EC) was the legal competent body to announce the schedule for general election and observed that the schedule might not be announced before finalisation of the voters' list across the country.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Council of Advisers at Khulna Circuit House in the afternoon, he said it was the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct all elections, including the parliamentary polls, and announce the schedules in time.
"So far as I know, it may not be possible for the Election Commission to announce the schedule for general election until the voters' list is finalised throughout the country," he told a correspondent.
About the timeframe of the election to the ninth parliament stalled following the January 11, 2007 changeover amid a political crisis, the Chief Adviser said since he had already stated about the timeframe (third week of December), he wouldn't repeat it.
The questions cropped up as major political parties were insisting on immediate announcement of the election schedule and advancing the polls to October by jumping the timeline set in the EC-declared roadmap.
About oath of the newly elected mayors of four City Corporations, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said usually, the elected mayors are supposed to take oath after a month of the elections.
He said the LGRD ministry sent a summary to the Chief Adviser with a request to him to administer the oath to the city mayors, and his response was awaited.
Besides, the adviser said the mayors-elect would have to submit the affidavit of their statements of wealth before taking the oath of office.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Council of Advisers at Khulna Circuit House in the afternoon, he said it was the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct all elections, including the parliamentary polls, and announce the schedules in time.
"So far as I know, it may not be possible for the Election Commission to announce the schedule for general election until the voters' list is finalised throughout the country," he told a correspondent.
About the timeframe of the election to the ninth parliament stalled following the January 11, 2007 changeover amid a political crisis, the Chief Adviser said since he had already stated about the timeframe (third week of December), he wouldn't repeat it.
The questions cropped up as major political parties were insisting on immediate announcement of the election schedule and advancing the polls to October by jumping the timeline set in the EC-declared roadmap.
About oath of the newly elected mayors of four City Corporations, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said usually, the elected mayors are supposed to take oath after a month of the elections.
He said the LGRD ministry sent a summary to the Chief Adviser with a request to him to administer the oath to the city mayors, and his response was awaited.
Besides, the adviser said the mayors-elect would have to submit the affidavit of their statements of wealth before taking the oath of office.