The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Loan and bill defaulters won't be given concession allowing them to contest the upcoming elections, the Election Commission made it clear following allegations that such persons are again in the queue.

"It's not the right information that the loan and bill defaulters are being given concession during the elections," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain told reporters at his office on yesterday afternoon, referring to some newspaper reports.

Replying to a question, Sakhawat said the political parties should apply to the government for permission to arrange their party councils, meant for updating their manifestoes to adapt to the changed political milieu.

He also said the ballot papers for the general and upazila elections would be printed after completing the scrutiny of the candidatures.

"Some 10 to 15 symbols will remain on the ballots for upazila chairman elections," he said.

In reply, the Election Commissioner said the nomination submission for both the parliamentary and upazila elections might be completed in a single day, but the scrutiny could be completed within a day or two thereafter.

Sakhawat Hossain informed that the first consignment of the transparent ballot boxes arrived from Canada and a Canadian trainer would conduct one-hour-long training with some 30 people to introduce them to the use of the new type of voting boxes.

Replying to another question, he said the Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) would act as returning officers during the upazila elections.

Asked whether one candidate could contest upazila and parliamentary polls both at a time, he said one candidate could apply for nomination in two places but he/she could not contest in two places.

"The candidature will be dropped out at one place during the scrutiny," he said.