The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday termed the city and poura polls as 'test case' for the Election Commission (EC) before what he said the final test of national polls.

Talking to reporters at the EC Secretariat he said he does not see any problem with holding parliamentary elections under the emergency.

The remark was made as the four city corporations and nine pourasabhas were held without facing problem under state of emergency.

The CEC said there may be some psychological and conceptual misgivings among people about the emergency, but, practically, it does not create problem in holding election.

Asked whether the national elections would also be held under the emergency, he said they would ask the government to create congenial atmosphere for holding a fair general election.

"But it is the matter of the government whether or not they would lift the state of emergency," he observed.

He said that no major problem was noticed in the local- government elections held yesterday.

Turnout of women and first-time voters were much more in the election compared to the previous elections, he said.

Earlier, the CEC visited some polling centers in Manikganj Sadar pourasava to see the atmosphere of the election.