The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Implementation of election roadmap announced earlier by the Election Commission (EC) to hold the next general elections by the end of this year would not be affected following the resignation of a group of Advisers of the caretaker government at a time. The election would be held in time.

Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain stated this while talking to reporters at his office yesterday.

We are doing our duties independently. The Advisers of the caretaker Government never interfered in our tasks. They did not create any pressure on us. So I hope that change in the Advisers Council will have no impact on the polls roadmap, he said.

The Election Commissioner said the resignations would also not affect the government administration relating to the separation of the EC secretariat from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Replying to a question on Awami League's demand to hold the general elections by June-July, he said the work of voter list has to be finished before holding the elections.

As soon as the voter list was be ready, the EC would inform the government that the Commission was now ready to hold parliamentary elections, he said. Sohul Hussain said the elections would be held in time if the preparation of voter list is completed before the scheduled time, he said.

Asked about the EC plan to hold dialogue with BNP, he said the decision would be taken in line with the court directories, as the High Court is expected to complete the hearing of the appeal of the EC's invitation to the reformist BNP faction to electoral reform talks today.

"The commission will hold dialogue with the faction of BNP that get the court verdict. The court verdict will be considered final, in this regard " he said.

About the EC's second-round dialogue with the political parties, he informed that the second round of talks with political parties would be held in a single day next month.

"If any party raises objection to sit with all parties, then the Commission will consider it," he said.

Sohul Hussain said the draft of the proposed electoral reform would be finalised after the second round of dialogue with the political parties.

He said the delimitation work of the constituencies has been started.

The Election Commissioner apprehended that difficulties may arise centering the delimitation work and the commission is ready to accept any logical demand in this regard.