Speculations rife over polls rescheduling

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Emran Hossain Shaikh
Published : 07:30, Nov 12, 2018 | Updated : 07:30, Nov 12, 2018

The Election Commission offices in Dhaka`s Agargaon. File PhotoSpeculations are rife in the political arena that the general election is likely to be delayed by a week.
The Election Commission has said that it has no reservations over delaying the voting, now scheduled for Dec 23, if that’s what all the political parties want.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda hinted that a decision may come on Monday.
In a televised address on Nov 8, Huda announced the schedule for 11th Parliamentary Election setting Nov 19 as the deadline for filing nominations, which will be scrutinised on Nov 22.
The last day for withdrawing nominations has been fixed Nov 23.
Soon after the schedule was announced several political parties and coalitions, including the Jatiya Oikya Front and Left Democratic Alliance called for deferring the polls until a level playing field is ensured.
After announcing its decision to take part in the election on Sunday, the Jatiya Oikya Front has called for scrapping the schedule and deferring the election by a month.
The same day, several parties, including the BNP and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh-led Jukto Front, have written to the Election Commission urging to reschedule the election.
The Jukto Front led by AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, however, has urged the Commission to delay the polls by a week, setting Dec 30 as election day.
In its letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, Badruddoza said, “It seems to us that the time for filing nominations is not adequate.
“It will be tough (for the political parties) to scrutinise and interviewing those seeking the ticket by the deadlines.”
Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Alliance, a coalition of eight leftist parties, has not reported to the Commission on which polls symbol its candidates will contest despite the deadline ended on Sunday.
“We have already called a fresh schedule for the election with the voting deferred and we are waiting for that,” Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim told Bangla Tribune.
The ruling Awami League, which until now maintained that the polls should be held in line with the announced schedule, said on Sunday it has no objection if the voting is deferred.
“However, it’s the Election Commission’s call, but the Awami League will not object,” General Secretary Obaidul Quader told the media.
HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party echoed.
The Election Commission, however, says a decision on rescheduling polls will be taken by the commissioners.
Speaking to the media in Rangpur, Commissioner Rafiqul Islam said, “The decision on whether to delay the polls will be taken by all the commissioners.”
The same day, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda told the media in Dhaka that a decision was likely to come on Monday.
EC officials, however, said no meeting of the commissioners is scheduled for Monday, when they are expected to attend an expo over electronic voting machines (EVMs).
An official, however, said the commissioners may sit in an informal meeting to agree in principle over delaying the polls.
According to people at the Commission familiar with the matter, the EC has no problems to defer the polls if there’s consensus by all parties, including the ruling Awami League.
However, the Commission is decided to hold the voting by this year, which means the polls are likely to be held on Dec 30 and the other deadlines will be changed accordingly.

/zmi/
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