The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Hearings over written objections on the delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies began yesterday at the Election Commission Secretariat.

On the first day, the hearings got off with eight constituencies under Dhaka Division. The constituencies are Tangail-5 and 6, Kishoregonj-1 and 2, Faridpur-2, 3 and 4 and Shariatpur-2.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, who presided over the hearing sessions, said the delimitation was done following the Representation of the People Order.

"The Commission will not change country's district borders through the delimitation of the electoral constituencies," he said.

The CEC said the delimitation would not affect people's lifestyle as the country's administrative units are not being changed through the redesigning of the parliamentary constituencies.

"Everything will remain the same," he observed. Dr Huda said people representatives represent both the voters and non-voters in a constituency and the delimitation was done in terms of the proportion of population in the areas concerned.

He explained that the Commission does not want to break the border of the country's upazilas during the delimitation of the constituencies.

Referring to the logic of limiting to 6 parliamentary seats from earlier 7 in Kishoreganj district, he said the upazilas could be kept same as before during the delimitation.

The hearings of objections came from Sylhet, Comilla, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Rajshahi division would be held in phases.

The schedule for hearing as follows:

Dhaka Division: Manikganj-1, 2 and 3 and Jamalpur-3 and 4, Netrakona-1, 4 and 5, Mymensingh-3 and 4, Dhaka-1, 2, 4 and 10 on June 14 while Dhaka-20, Gazipur-3, 4 and 5, Narsingdi-1 and 3 and Narayanganj-2 and 3 and Dhaka- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 on June 15.

Sylhet Division: Sunamganj-4, Sylhet-1, 3 and 4, Moulvibazar-1, 2 and 4 at Shylhet Circuit House on June 19 while Brahmanbaria-1, 2, 3, Brahmanbaria- 5 and 6 and Comilla-1, Comilla-2, 7, 8 and 10, and Chandpur-1, 2, 3 and 4 at Comilla Deputy Commissioner's conference room on June 22.

Chittagong Division: Feni-3, Noakhali-1 and 2, Chittagong-5, 6 and 7 and Chittagong-12 and 13 at Chittagong Circuit House on June 23.

Barisal Division: Barguna-1 and 2, Patuakhali-2, Patuakhali-4 and Barisal-2 and 3, and Barisal-4 and Pirojpur-2 and 3 at Barisal DC's conference room on June 25.

Khulna Division: Jessore-4, 5 and 6, and Khulna-5 and 6 at Khulna DC's conference room on June 27.

Rajshahi Division: Rajshahi-6, Kurigram-2 and 3, Bogra-1, 3 and 4 and Bogra-5, 6 and 7 and Sirajganj- 1, 2, 5 and 6 at Rajshahi DC's conference room on June 30.

The EC would dispose of some 3,000 objections made by the petitioners by June 30.