The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Election to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) will not be held this year since the Election Commission (EC) is overburdened with the activities for holding the general elections and upazila polls.

"Holding of Dhaka City Corporation election is not possible this year. It will be held early next year by the elected government," said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.

In his address to the nation on Saturday, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed announced the dates for general elections and upazila polls but did not mention anything on the overdue DCC poll. The EC was taking preparation for the DCC election for few months.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda is due to announce the election dates to parliamentary, upazila and DCC polls today.

EC sources said the CEC, during his planned press conference today, is likely to explain to journalists the EC's position in this regard.

Talking to journalists, Election Commissioner Shakhawat Hossain said that EC would announce both the schedules for general elections and upazila polls by the first week of November. "Both the schedules will be announced on the same day," he said.

Meanwhile, the EC has expressed its frustration over BNP's demand for suspension or cancellation of the amended Representation of People Order (RPO).

The EC sources, however, said that it would not accept the demand for suspension or cancellation of the amended RPO.

It may be mentioned that the tenure of the DCC has been over in May last year. Election to the over due four city corporations-Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet had been held on August 4. The tenure of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will end in 2010.