EC to decide Monday on possibility of delaying municipal polls

The Election Commission will make the final decision on Monday whether to defer the municipal polls slated for Dec 30.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad made the statement to reporters on Sunday afternoon after meeting the delegations of several major political parties.

Due to legal barriers, the EC has been reluctant to delay the elections in 236 municipalities across Bangladesh, the first civic elections on political party lines.

But following similar calls from different parties, it will now meet on Monday to make a final decision, the CEC said.

Earlier in the day, the ruling Awami League and the Jatiya Party had moved the Commission to allow local MPs to campaign in support of party candidates.

The JP also wanted the polls to be deferred by 10 days.

The BNP, too, on Sunday formally requested Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad to postpone the vote by at least 15 days.

Speaking with journalists after meeting representatives of different parties, Ahmad said, "We've given enough time (for preparations). Dec 30 is our last chance to organise the elections."

He said he had informed the BNP and JP leaders of the problems related to deferring the polls.

He added, "We've heard what all of them had to say. We always give special consideration to the demands made by the registered parties.

"We'll discuss the issues with the other election commissioners and announce the decision on Monday."

After their meeting, the adviser to the BNP Chairperson Osman Farooq told reporters, “The CEC cited legal hindrances to the postponement. But we said the law should be amended if necessary. It should serve the people’s needs. It ceases to be a matter of the government if the EC so desires.”

The BNP was the first to urge the EC to defer the polls after the election schedule was announced. The Workers' Party of Bangladesh followed suit.

The JP and the Workers' Party had also called for rescheduling at about the same time.