Staff Reporter :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Tuesday said that decision on whether to postpone five by-election and Chattogram City Corporation polls would be taken after assessing the effects of coronavirus across the country. ‘The decision will be taken within a day or two’, the CEC told reporters while emerging from Election Commission office after cutting a cake, on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The date of holding by-polls in Dhaka-10, Gaibandha-3, Bagerhat-4 is March 21, while that of Chattogram City Corporation election and Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 by-polls is March 29.
“We will consider postponement of elections if the (coronavirus) situation goes out of control. But for now, we want the elections to take place on time,” the CEC said.
“We didn’t take any decision as yet… as preparation is at the final stage,” he said.
The CEC further said that the candidates told the commission that they would campaign for the elections carefully and will avoid public gatherings.
“If they avoid public gatherings, we find no problem in holding the elections,” he added.
