Parliament polls in Dec this year: CEC
FE Report | Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr A T M Shamsul Huda categorically said on Tuesday that the parliament election would be held in December this year.
"There is no reason of a shift in election time unless any unusual things happen," Huda said addressing the monthly meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Dhaka. He said the Commission is doing everything to go by the roadmap declared earlier.
The CEC informed the AmCham members that the registration of the political parties would start from next month.
Seeking support from all political parties he said the Election Commission was giving allout efforts to hold a free and fair election. "It's not a healthy political culture to oppose anything that does not go in favour of party interest, Dr. Huda said hinting at the political parties' opposition to holding of Upazila election before the parliamentary polls.
The CEC said the Upazila polls will be held immediately after holding the city corporation and municipality elections.
Reiterating his call for electing honest and eligible candidates Dr. Huda said the provision of 'no vote' has been kept in the ballot paper so that an individual voter can choose to cast a negative vote if he finds no one is honest or eligible in his constituency.
CEC claimed that he and his colleagues were trying their best to institutionalise the Election Commission as an independent body and sought cooperation from all concerned including political parties, trade bodies, civil society and the media.
Chaired by AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed the function was also attended by Charge de Affairs of the US Embassy Gita Passi and AmCham executive director A Gafur.
"There is no reason of a shift in election time unless any unusual things happen," Huda said addressing the monthly meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Dhaka. He said the Commission is doing everything to go by the roadmap declared earlier.
The CEC informed the AmCham members that the registration of the political parties would start from next month.
Seeking support from all political parties he said the Election Commission was giving allout efforts to hold a free and fair election. "It's not a healthy political culture to oppose anything that does not go in favour of party interest, Dr. Huda said hinting at the political parties' opposition to holding of Upazila election before the parliamentary polls.
The CEC said the Upazila polls will be held immediately after holding the city corporation and municipality elections.
Reiterating his call for electing honest and eligible candidates Dr. Huda said the provision of 'no vote' has been kept in the ballot paper so that an individual voter can choose to cast a negative vote if he finds no one is honest or eligible in his constituency.
CEC claimed that he and his colleagues were trying their best to institutionalise the Election Commission as an independent body and sought cooperation from all concerned including political parties, trade bodies, civil society and the media.
Chaired by AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed the function was also attended by Charge de Affairs of the US Embassy Gita Passi and AmCham executive director A Gafur.