Don’t defer polls again: AL to EC

Awami League today requested the Election Commission not to defer the schedule for the 11th parliamentary election again. 

A delegation of the ruling party made the plea in a meeting with the commission this afternoon, hours after a team of Jatiya Oikyafront, the major opposition alliance, held meeting with the EC demanding the polls deferral by three weeks.

Talking to media after the AL’s meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Political Adviser HT Imam, who led the 10-member delegation, said, they requested the commission not to defer the polls schedule for even a single day.

He said they also urged the Election Commission to take stern action against BNP for clashing with police, violating the electoral code of conduct.

At least 20 BNP activists and supporters were injured in a clash with police in Dhaka this afternoon. Police claimed at least 20 policemen were also injured as the BNP activists hurled brick chips at them during the clash.

WHAT DOES OIKYAFRONT SAY AFTER MEETING WITH EC

After a meeting with EC, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that they have requested the Election Commission to defer the election date by three weeks.

“The election commission informed us that it will consider our demand,” he told media.

Fakhrul, a top leader of the opposition alliance, also said the attitude of the Election Commission and the polls-time government will determine whether they will stay in the polls race or not.

“It will depend on the attitude of the Election Commission and the election-time government whether the opposition party will stay in the election race or not,” Fakhrul, a key leader of Jatiya Oikyafront, said after a meeting with the EC.

Kamal Hossain, the key leader of the opposition alliance, said they had detailed discussion with the Election Commission. “They (EC) responded to all of our queries and assured us of considering our demands,” Kamal, president of Gono Forum, said.

WHAT IS THE REVISED POLLS SCHEDULE?

Election Commission has revised polls schedule, deferring the 11th general election by a week to December 30 – a decision taken earlier this week.

The authorities have fixed November 28 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, December 2 for scrutiny and December 9 last date of withdrawal.

The move came following demands from several opposition political parties.

WHAT WAS THE OLD SCHEDULE?

The Election Commission announced the election schedule on November 8. At that time, major opposition parties were undecided on participation.

According to the previous date, the national election – the 11th Jatiya Sangsad polls – was scheduled to be held on December 23.