JS polls now on Dec 29, upazila Jan 22
Monday, 24 November 2008
FE Report
The ninth parliamentary polls and upazila elections will now be held on December 29, 2008 and January 22, 2008 respectively under the revised schedules announced Sunday by the Election Commission (EC).
Earlier, the dates for holding the national and upazila elections were December 18, 2008 and December 28 respectively.
"We hope all the political parties accept the revised schedules and take part in the elections in a festive mode," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A T M Shamsul Huda said while announcing the fresh schedules at his EC office.
Under the fresh schedules, the last date for submission of nomination papers has been deferred further by seven days to November 30, 2008 from November 23 for the national elections, he said.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have been fixed on December 3 and December 4, 2008 while December 11, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from the parliamentary polls, Dr. Huda told newsmen.
Previously, the EC revised twice the timetable for submission and withdrawal of nomination papers for the parliamentary elections, taking some technical problems of the aspirant candidates and Supreme Court ruling into account, he noted.
Announcing the revised schedule of the upazila elections, the CEC said the last date for submission of nomination papers has been refixed on December 13, 2008.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have also been fixed on December 17, 18 and 19, 2008 while December 31, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from upazila polls, he mentioned.
"After having talks with the major political parties - the BNP-led four-part alliance and the Awami League-backed 14-party alliance -- we have tried to reach an acceptable position regarding the new election schedules," the CEC said.
Dr. Huda, however, ruled out the possibility of scrapping the Article 91(E) of the Representation of the People's Order (RPO) Ordinance 2008, as was demanded by the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party)-led four-party alliance.
"Scrapping of such Article is not possible," the CEC said.
At the same time, he also mentioned that there was no possibility of abusing the Article as its execution takes a lengthy process, including hearing of any particular complaint on the violation of code of conducts.
"We think that the presence of that particular Article is necessary for dealing with some serious complaints," he said.
Regarding the lifting of the state of emergency, the CEC said the Commission will make a strong recommendation to the government for it.
"We have assured the political parties of recommending the government for lifting the emergency so that the candidates can freely conduct their election campaigns, he said.
The ninth parliamentary polls and upazila elections will now be held on December 29, 2008 and January 22, 2008 respectively under the revised schedules announced Sunday by the Election Commission (EC).
Earlier, the dates for holding the national and upazila elections were December 18, 2008 and December 28 respectively.
"We hope all the political parties accept the revised schedules and take part in the elections in a festive mode," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A T M Shamsul Huda said while announcing the fresh schedules at his EC office.
Under the fresh schedules, the last date for submission of nomination papers has been deferred further by seven days to November 30, 2008 from November 23 for the national elections, he said.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have been fixed on December 3 and December 4, 2008 while December 11, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from the parliamentary polls, Dr. Huda told newsmen.
Previously, the EC revised twice the timetable for submission and withdrawal of nomination papers for the parliamentary elections, taking some technical problems of the aspirant candidates and Supreme Court ruling into account, he noted.
Announcing the revised schedule of the upazila elections, the CEC said the last date for submission of nomination papers has been refixed on December 13, 2008.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have also been fixed on December 17, 18 and 19, 2008 while December 31, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from upazila polls, he mentioned.
"After having talks with the major political parties - the BNP-led four-part alliance and the Awami League-backed 14-party alliance -- we have tried to reach an acceptable position regarding the new election schedules," the CEC said.
Dr. Huda, however, ruled out the possibility of scrapping the Article 91(E) of the Representation of the People's Order (RPO) Ordinance 2008, as was demanded by the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party)-led four-party alliance.
"Scrapping of such Article is not possible," the CEC said.
At the same time, he also mentioned that there was no possibility of abusing the Article as its execution takes a lengthy process, including hearing of any particular complaint on the violation of code of conducts.
"We think that the presence of that particular Article is necessary for dealing with some serious complaints," he said.
Regarding the lifting of the state of emergency, the CEC said the Commission will make a strong recommendation to the government for it.
"We have assured the political parties of recommending the government for lifting the emergency so that the candidates can freely conduct their election campaigns, he said.