The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) will hold election to 300 to 350 upazila parishads by October next and polls to the rest after the parliamentary election.

"We will announce the schedule for upazila polls by middle or end of the next month. So, elections to 300-350 upazilas will be held in the first half of October while the rest after the national elections," said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain while talking to reporters at his office yesterday.

He said the schedule for general elections would be announced by the end of October or first week of November and the polls would be held in the third week of December in line with the roadmap.

The Election Commissioner said the Commission had already proclaimed the Upazila Parishad Ordinance, mentioning that the upazila election schedule would be announced 45 to 50 days ahead of the actual polls to give candidates ample time for campaigning.

Referring to the meeting of 3-member EC committee headed by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Saturday, he said they apprised the Chief Adviser on the preparations for the local government and general elections.

"We told him when we will hold the elections and what the government will have to do," he added.

He said the government has been asked to remove immediately any official involved in election related activities if he does anything wrong or illegal.

The Election Commissioner reiterated his urge to political parties not to get involved in the process of elections to four city corporation and nine pourasabhas scheduled to be held on August 4. "No political party should get involved directly with in campaigning or use it as a party platform," he said.

He said electoral laws would be strictly enforced during the ensuing elections. "Candidates must abide by the election code of conduct. Otherwise, candidature will be cancelled and punitive action will be taken place against candidates concerned," he cautioned.

Shakhawat Hossain urged all to take lessons from the past and called upon voters to cast their votes judiciously.

He said the Commission would hold meetings with different ministries and divisions on July 17 regarding the law and order situation during the local government electrons.