Quader says general election may happen in January

The Awami League has asked its supporters to prepare for the next general elections keeping in mind that the polls may be held in January next year.

General Secretary Obaidul Quader, deviating from his previous remarks, also hinted that the election-time government may not be as tiny as perceived.

Quader, who had said only two days ago that the next parliamentary election would be held in December this year, said during a campaign event in Dhaka on Sunday: “The Election Commission can fix any day before Jan 27 for the election. It’s the commission’s authority.”

“Get ready. We’ve started the nomination process in October,” he added.

His comments followed denial of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda. He said on Saturday that they had never said the elections would be held in December.

The EC is bound by the law to organise the 11th parliamentary elections between Oct 30 and Jan 28.

Top functionaries in the government, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have been saying that the elections will be held in December.

Speaking about the election-time government, Quader said, “There will not be any interim or election-time government. This government led by Sheikh Hasina will stay.”

“But the government will do only routine work at the time. The areas of its jobs will change.”

“…Maybe it will get a bit small in size. It may happen in the last week of October,” he added.