CEC back at his desk after long gap

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad has joined his office after one and a half months’ absence.

He was greeted by the others commissioners and EC secretary at his office in the Election Commission on Tuesday, but did not speak to reporters.

EC spokesperson SM Asaduzzaman said Ahmad would speak to journalists on Wednesday after a commission meeting on the upcoming sixth-phase Upazila polls, EC recruitment rules and several other matters.

The CEC returned home on Monday after his tour of the United States.

He had left the county after the first two phases of the Upazila polls. His absence drew flak as three phases of voting were marked by violence and rigging.

File Photo

Before leaving for the US, Ahmad refused comment on his departure amid polls, but he kept contact with the EC through email and asked the officials to take ‘effective measures’ against violence and rigging.

The CEC, the EC secretary and the National ID Registration Wing director general attended a meeting in the US on national ID cards early this month.

Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak carried out the duties of the CEC during his absence.

He invited criticism by reacting to a statement of BNP chief Khaleda Zia and also received a death threat from an anonymous caller.

According to the EC Secretariat, three other commissioners will visit the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Australia to attend meetings on national ID cards soon.

Thakurgaon, Tangail polls Wednesday

The elections in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Parishad will be held on Wednesday. Voting in one centre in the Tangail-8 parliamentary polls, which were suspended, will be conducted on the same day.

A court had stayed the election in Thakurgaon Upazila. The EC fixed a fresh election date after the stay order was lifted.

The EC also has announced the schedule for election in Boalkhali municipality in Chittagong. The polls will be held on May 21.

The commission fixed Apr 24 as the deadline for nomination submission, Apr 27 for scrutiny and May 5 for withdrawal.