National election Dec 18, upazila polls Dec 24, 28
Sunday, 21 September 2008
The Chief Adviser (EC) said the Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold the Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) election first on December 18 to avoid any impediment, obstacle or confrontation to switchover to democratic dispensation and show respect to the request of majority political parties, reports UNB.
Similarly, keeping in mind spontaneous aspiration of the common people about the local-government elections, the upazila election will be held in two phases - on December 24 and 28 - immediately after the parliamentary election, he said in his announcement-immediate before leaving for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
"Through this planning the cherished aim of all will be served in greater national interest," he said.
The Chief Adviser noted that after assuming power 20 months ago, he had declared that his avowed objective is to hand over power to a political government through free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections to establish democracy on a firm footing in the country.
"We've never ever deviated from this end," he said, apparently to dispel doubts and uncertainties that have cropped up in the rugged way forward from the 1/11 changeover amid a grave political crisis that had stalled the previously set January 22, 2007 polls.
Referring to reforms, brought in important institutions and frameworks, Dr Ahmed said under the reform recipe the Election Commission was reconstituted, strengthened and made effective, and the Judiciary was separated from the Executive last November to ensure the rule of law in the country.
He said the EC has the responsibility to hold the elections. It is the responsibility of the government to assist them, and create a level playing field for equal opportunity of all. "Indeed, the government has been working since the beginning to create such an atmosphere in the election field."
Similarly, keeping in mind spontaneous aspiration of the common people about the local-government elections, the upazila election will be held in two phases - on December 24 and 28 - immediately after the parliamentary election, he said in his announcement-immediate before leaving for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
"Through this planning the cherished aim of all will be served in greater national interest," he said.
The Chief Adviser noted that after assuming power 20 months ago, he had declared that his avowed objective is to hand over power to a political government through free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections to establish democracy on a firm footing in the country.
"We've never ever deviated from this end," he said, apparently to dispel doubts and uncertainties that have cropped up in the rugged way forward from the 1/11 changeover amid a grave political crisis that had stalled the previously set January 22, 2007 polls.
Referring to reforms, brought in important institutions and frameworks, Dr Ahmed said under the reform recipe the Election Commission was reconstituted, strengthened and made effective, and the Judiciary was separated from the Executive last November to ensure the rule of law in the country.
He said the EC has the responsibility to hold the elections. It is the responsibility of the government to assist them, and create a level playing field for equal opportunity of all. "Indeed, the government has been working since the beginning to create such an atmosphere in the election field."