EC awaits government's clearance on rules for Narayanganj, Comilla city polls

The Election Commission (EC) plans to hold polls to the Narayanganj and Comilla city corporations next month, but the law ministry is yet to clear rules for the elections.

The polls would be held for the first time on party lines.

The EC says it hopes to hold the elections in the third week of December.

"We are waiting for the regulations and the electoral code of conduct. It will be gazetted, once the law ministry clears it. After that, the EC would decide on a date," said EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah.

He told bdnews24.com that the polls to the 64 district councils are scheduled for Dec 28 and the Narayanganj City Corporation election needs to be held within Dec 26 as its tenure would expires on that date.

The Comilla City Corporation expires on Feb 8 next year.

According to the rules, election to Narayanganj has to be held between Jun 29 and Dec 26 this year while for Comilla, between Aug 12, 2016 and Feb 8, 2017.

BNP leader Monirul Haque Shakku is the mayor of Comilla while Awami League leader Selina Hayat Ivy won the elections in Narayanganj defeating the candidate backed by her own party.

The last elections for the two city corporations were non-partisan, but for the first time it will be held on party lines after amendment of the local government laws.

The EC plans to hold polls in Narayanganj and Comilla on the same day.

EC officials said they are preparing to hold the Narayanganj city polls on Dec 28, in which case the schedule has to be announced by the third week of this month.