Staff Reporter :
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of further delaying the holding of 11th Parliamentary election, which is scheduled to be held on December 30.
“Election will be held on December 30. There is no reason of making further delay. This is a compact time now. You all should move ahead to discharge your duties of holding election on the scheduled date,” CEC Nurul Huda told it to the Returning Officers in an orientation meeting held at the Election Commission (EC) Bhaban in the city yesterday.
The CEC’s remarks came on the backdrop of demands from BNP and Oikyfront for further deferral of the election.
The CEC on November 12 announced an amendment to the earlier declared schedule seven days deferral. The date of polls was on December 23 as per the schedule announced on November 8.
According to amended schedule, the election would be held on December 30. The last date of filing nomination is November 28, which was November 19. Scrutiny will be held on December 2 and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature is December 9.
In his speech addressing the Returning Officers, CEC Nurul Huda delivered a set of directives with regard to election duties in light of the Commission laws.
“Maintain neutrality in discharging election duties. Do not consider any party or a candidate as your personal rival. Maintain good relations with them within the law for maximum cooperation. Beware that your activity and your behavior do not create any suspicion in voters’ mind,” he said.
“Be strict so that no showdown takes place in any election office at the time of the submission of nomination forms,” he added.
EC Member Mahbub Talukder has called upon the Returning Officers to work for the election climate stability.
“Don’t show any weaknesses or hesitation to act strictly if anything appears against the election environment,” he said.
EC Member Kabita Khanam and Secretary Helaluddin Ahmad were present, among others.
