The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said they would hold the general elections as soon as the preparation of voters' list was completed.

"There is no reason for any doubt about holding the elections as per the roadmap," he told press conference, adding that the Government also wants holding the election as early as possible.

He said the Election Commission would shortly start delimitation of all 300 parliamentary constituencies to remove the big discrepancies in number of voters. The number of district-wise constituencies will be completed within a week, he added.

But the entire process of delimitation allotting around 4 lakh voters in each constituency will be completed by June as per the election roadmap. Objections will be heard before finalising the task, he asserted.

Replying to a question Dr Huda said that geographical information system would be applied in delimitation, which would take the least time, be accurate and at a minimum cost.

Preparatory work and redistributing the areas can be completed in two months. But the process will be completed after hearing the objections, he added.

He told a questioner that integrity of small districts, including Chittagong Hill districts, would be protected. At least one constituency will be allocated to each of the three hill districts in accordance with the population. Other small districts will have at least two constituencies. Each constituency will have around four lakh people.

Dr Huda indicated that the existing number of constituencies in many populous districts might go up and decline in others. But the number of total constituencies will remain the same 300.