Upazila polls may be delayed: EC
Sunday, 14 September 2008
The Election Commission (EC) has conceded that it may not be possible to hold upazila elections from October 23, as the Commission has still to hold talks with BNP and the polling regulations have yet to given the all-clear by the law ministry, reports bdnews24.com.
"The Commission does not have sufficient time in hand if the schedule is to be announced at least 40-45 days before the election date," Election Commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hussain told the news agency Saturday.
"We will inform our final decision in a few days," he said.
The Commission has between 40-44 days remaining from Sunday to finalise all arrangements for upazila polls according to its previously declared dates of October 23 and October 27.
The schedule was given 45 days ahead for the last upazila polls held in the country in 1990.
"Sufficient time must be given for submission and scrutiny of nomination papers and for campaigning," an EC official said.
"It may be a risk if less time is given," he said.
"We are yet to hold dialogue with BNP," Sohul Hussain pointed out.
"And we are still awaiting the law ministry's final vetting of the upazila poll regulations, drafted in line with the upazila ordinance (formulated on June 30)."
For the August 4 city corporation and municipality polls, the EC announced the schedule on June 20, keeping 44 days in hand.
The chief election commissioner (CEC) on July 21 first informed BBC radio and bdnews24.com October 23 as a tentative upazila poll date.
The EC later on August 25 formally decided two dates, October 23 and October 27, for holding polls to around 250 upazila parishads.
However, the scenario changed after the EC's third round electoral dialogue with the political parties.
In the dialogue, held between September 6 and September 9, many political parties including the Awami League remained steadfast in their opposition to holding upazila polls ahead of national elections.
Another major party BNP, who had boycotted its scheduled dialogue session, is now set to sit with the EC following the release of party chief Khaleda Zia.
A deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat, on condition of anonymity told the agency: "The Election Commission wants to hold upazila polls under the caretaker government."
"If it is not possible to hold them before national elections, however, the Commission will hold them in January or February."
Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told the agency Saturday: "We will take a final decision after holding talks with BNP. We are still trying to proceed in line with the electoral roadmap."
"The Commission does not have sufficient time in hand if the schedule is to be announced at least 40-45 days before the election date," Election Commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hussain told the news agency Saturday.
"We will inform our final decision in a few days," he said.
The Commission has between 40-44 days remaining from Sunday to finalise all arrangements for upazila polls according to its previously declared dates of October 23 and October 27.
The schedule was given 45 days ahead for the last upazila polls held in the country in 1990.
"Sufficient time must be given for submission and scrutiny of nomination papers and for campaigning," an EC official said.
"It may be a risk if less time is given," he said.
"We are yet to hold dialogue with BNP," Sohul Hussain pointed out.
"And we are still awaiting the law ministry's final vetting of the upazila poll regulations, drafted in line with the upazila ordinance (formulated on June 30)."
For the August 4 city corporation and municipality polls, the EC announced the schedule on June 20, keeping 44 days in hand.
The chief election commissioner (CEC) on July 21 first informed BBC radio and bdnews24.com October 23 as a tentative upazila poll date.
The EC later on August 25 formally decided two dates, October 23 and October 27, for holding polls to around 250 upazila parishads.
However, the scenario changed after the EC's third round electoral dialogue with the political parties.
In the dialogue, held between September 6 and September 9, many political parties including the Awami League remained steadfast in their opposition to holding upazila polls ahead of national elections.
Another major party BNP, who had boycotted its scheduled dialogue session, is now set to sit with the EC following the release of party chief Khaleda Zia.
A deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat, on condition of anonymity told the agency: "The Election Commission wants to hold upazila polls under the caretaker government."
"If it is not possible to hold them before national elections, however, the Commission will hold them in January or February."
Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told the agency Saturday: "We will take a final decision after holding talks with BNP. We are still trying to proceed in line with the electoral roadmap."