The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday dropped a broad hint that the Election Commission (EC) could announce the poll schedule in July.

"The draft voter list will be completed by the end of June. Then the Commission will see whether a date can be announced," he said while talking to journalists after a meeting with visiting UNDP Administrator and Under Secretary General of the United Nations Kemal Dervis at his Commission Secretariat in the city. The CEC categorically said that he would announce the date for national elections after June.

Meanwhile, the UN Under Secretary General, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day visit and led the delegation during the meeting, told journalists that he hoped the elections would be held on time as per the roadmap. "We see no reason for the elections not being held as per the roadmap," he said, adding, "All preparations for the elections appeared to be ongoing."

Asked about the UNDP-supported ongoing project on voter listing, the UNDP administrator said the current voter list, that is the one being prepared, is comparatively more flawless than the past one. UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Renata Dessallien accompanied the seven-member delegation. Election Commissioner Sohul Hussain was present during the 45-minute meeting.

He pointed out that there are some specific and common problems with voter lists in different countries in the world, and he shared his experiences of other countries with the EC.

Replying to a question, Dr Shamsul Huda said the schedule for the city corporation and pourashova elections would be announced after the publication of gazette on the proposed local government ordinance.

"When I get the gazette in my hand, I will speak about the local government polls," he said:

The schedule for elections to four city corporations and seven municipalities are likely to be announced by the end of the current month or early next month.

Asked when he is expecting the gazette to be notified, CEC Huda said he does not expect anything since he is not a "fortune-teller".

According to EC sources the draft of the proposed local government ordinance has been finalised.