Election schedule will not be changed: CEC

The schedule for the election will not be changed, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has categorically stated amid the Opposition's demand to suspend the roadmap.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 Dec 2013, 03:18 PM
Updated : 1 Dec 2013, 04:53 PM

The schedule for the national election will not be changed, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has categorically stated amid the Opposition's demand to suspend the roadmap.

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday further said the deadline for filing nomination papers would remain unchanged as well.

"The decision to file nomination within Dec 2 is unchanged," he said replying to a reporter's query.

According to the schedule, the general election will be held on Jan 5 next year. Nomination papers will be screened on Dec 5-6 and Dec 13 is the deadline to withdraw nomination.

Jatiya Party, which recently parted ways with the Awami League-led Grand Alliance, has demanded extending the nomination filing deadline by at least 10 days.

The Opposition had rejected the polls schedule calling a 71-hour blockade of roads, railways and waterways across Bangladesh.

It had urged the Election Commission to postpone the election roadmap and ensure participation of all political parties in the election.

Asked if there was any chance of changing the schedule, the CEC on Sunday evening said, "No. The dates announced in the roadmap are unchanged."

The CEC earlier had hinted that the schedule might change only after a settlement between the two major political parties over the form of polls-time dispensation.

The BNP is boycotting the elections under the recently constituted ‘all-party’ interim cabinet. If the deadline to submit nominations ends on Monday, the main opposition will lose its chance to contest the parliamentary polls.

Asked whether the elections would take place without the main opposition, Ahmad hinted at making compromises to lure the BNP in.

“We were late to make the opposition coalition join polls. If the Opposition comes and reconciliation takes place, many doors will open.

“The issue will be looked upon from another point of view if there is a settlement.”

He also explained why the Commission did not mediate talks between the Awami League and BNP. “There is a problem of being the mediator. Confusion may arise.”

“Some will say we are siding with this party while some will say we are siding with that party. That’s why we did not get directly involved.”

File Photo

“But we encouraged them. There is no way to preserve democracy without a peaceful election. Many things are possible if there is reconciliation,” Ahmad added.

CEC Ahmad said the aspirants were collecting nomination forms for running from their constituencies and preparing for the polls.

He hoped the candidates would be able to file nominations within the timescale.

Cabinet Division’s letter

The Cabinet Division written to all ministries and grassroots-level administration to assist the Election Commission in holding the parliamentary election on Jan 5 in a free and fair manner.

The letters, signed by Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and sent on Thursday, reached the officials on Sunday.

All government, administration and ministry officials have been asked to assist the EC fully if it appoints any of them or any civilian as ‘polling officer’ who would be held accountable to the Commission.

Any violation, negligence or lack of commitment in the duty will lead to punishment, warned the letters.