UNB, Dhaka :
Airing doubt about a fair Zila Parishad polls under the current Election Commission, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday dropped a hint that their party led alliance may not join it.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the 20-party’s secretaries general at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he, however, said the final decision in this regard will be taken at the meeting of top leaders of the alliance, led by Khaleda Zia. “We’ve discussed the Zila Parishad election issue at the meeting. All most all of alliance partners have expressed their doubt that the lection won’t be free and fair under the current Election Commission,” the BNP leader said. He also alleged that the way the Zilla Parishad election is going to be held is contrary to the basics of the Constitution. “It’s clearly mentioned in the Constitution that all the elections, including parliamentary and local body ones, will be held through direct votes. But an electoral college has been created here for the Zila Parishad polls as only the elected representatives of local government bodies will only be able to vote, depriving people of their rights of casting direct vote,” Fakhrul observed.
The Election Commission is likely to hold the first-ever direct elections for the Zila Parishads (district councils) next December 28. At a recent meeting, the Commission decided in principle to hold the election on December 28, with
the election schedule to be revealed in mid-November.
Parliament on October 6 last passed the Zila Parishad (Amendment) Bill, 2016, to remove some ambiguities from the Zila Parishad Act, 2000 and clarifying about the formation of ‘electoral college’ with public representatives from all tiers for Zila Parishad election.
Airing doubt about a fair Zila Parishad polls under the current Election Commission, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday dropped a hint that their party led alliance may not join it.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the 20-party’s secretaries general at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he, however, said the final decision in this regard will be taken at the meeting of top leaders of the alliance, led by Khaleda Zia. “We’ve discussed the Zila Parishad election issue at the meeting. All most all of alliance partners have expressed their doubt that the lection won’t be free and fair under the current Election Commission,” the BNP leader said. He also alleged that the way the Zilla Parishad election is going to be held is contrary to the basics of the Constitution. “It’s clearly mentioned in the Constitution that all the elections, including parliamentary and local body ones, will be held through direct votes. But an electoral college has been created here for the Zila Parishad polls as only the elected representatives of local government bodies will only be able to vote, depriving people of their rights of casting direct vote,” Fakhrul observed.
The Election Commission is likely to hold the first-ever direct elections for the Zila Parishads (district councils) next December 28. At a recent meeting, the Commission decided in principle to hold the election on December 28, with
the election schedule to be revealed in mid-November.
Parliament on October 6 last passed the Zila Parishad (Amendment) Bill, 2016, to remove some ambiguities from the Zila Parishad Act, 2000 and clarifying about the formation of ‘electoral college’ with public representatives from all tiers for Zila Parishad election.
