EC to announce schedule for local govt polls by Sept

“We hope to be able to announce the polls schedule by September,” he told reporters at his Nirbachan Bhaban office Agargaon here.

Nasir Uddin added the commission might complete the polls by early next year but the law obligated it to start the procedure within this year.

The CEC said local government polls would begin with union parishad elections as incumbent office bearers term expired by now.

“Previously, union parishad elections were held in six phases, along with some other miscellaneous constituencies, making a total of seven phases,” the CEC said. 

Following that approach, he said, the commission would first identify the unions where there were legal obligations to hold polls first.

The CEC earlier along with three commissioners paid a courtesy call on President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Bangabhaban.  One of the commissioners could not attend the meeting as he was abroad.

The CEC said during the meeting he conveyed the commission's sincere congratulations to the President on assuming office.

He said the president enquired about the commission’s preparedness for the polls and assured of all necessary cooperation so that it could work independently, professionally and impartially.

With Alamgir’s election as the head of the state, his parliamentary constituency in Thakurgaon fell vacant and the CEC said this development required the commission to hold a by election there within 90 days.  

The CEC said the President told them he wanted to see institutionalization of democracy in the country and that the prime minister was also interested in achieving the goal.

He said the time available for holding the local government elections was very limited due to floods, the law enforcement agencies’ engagement during Durga Puja and the onset of Ramadan from late February next year and subsequent Eid-ul-Fitr.

He said annual school examinations are held during winter, while school buildings are used as polling centers and teachers are engaged as polling officials during election period. 

Therefore, Nasir Uddin said, the matter would be coordinated through discussions with the concerned ministries.

He said adding that if the examinations could be completed quickly, the Commission would try to begin voting by the end of November.

Nasir Uddin said a decision was taken to provide postal ballot facilities for voters living both inside and outside the country.

He said commission officials were being trained by consultants so the system could be used in the future, and a standing manual was also being prepared. 

Asked whether the Jatiya Sangsad speaker sent EC any letter regarding Jamaat-e-Islami MP Gazi Nazrul Islam’s parliamentary seat, the CEC said they had received no such letter so far.

“If they receive any such letter, action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.

Regarding the law and order situation, the CEC said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah would soon begin coordination meetings with law enforcement agencies, and the agencies would be put on alert, reports BSS.

If necessary, there is an opportunity to seek assistance from the armed forces under the “in aid to civil power” framework, he mentioned.