The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday urged the government as well as the Election Commission (EC) to defer the upazila elections by one or two months to facilitate preparations of the contending parties.

He occupied that it would be difficult the for AL to take part in the upazila elections on December 24 and 28 announced by the Chief Adviser.

He also feared that the environment of the uncomming parliamentary elections would be harmed if upazila elections are held on the announced dates.

Zillur made this remark while talking to the reporters at his Gulshan residence last night.

He said at least five candidates will be in the race from each upazila for the post of Upazila chairman. If it so, how could a candidate for a parliamentary seat conduct his campaign at the same time?" he questioned.

Zillur suggested the EC to review the announced dates for the upazila election and said that the EC can announce the dates now but the next parliamentary government will arrange the upaziila elections.

"It will not cause any harm to the government or the nation," he observed.

He also hailed the decision of the EC for relaxation of provisions for registration of political parties. Zillur, however, noted that Jamaat-e-Islami will be benefited from the easing of the rules for party registration.

"Jamaat from the very beginning has been opposing the party registration provision. Now, they will be able to participate in upazila elections without registration," he said.