Special Correspondent :
The Election Commission (EC) will announce the schedule for 11th Parliamentary Polls on November 8. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda will unveil the election schedule in his address to the nation in the afternoon of that day.
The commission took the decision in its meeting held at EC secretariat last evening (November 4) presided over by CEC KM Nurul Huda.
The meeting was followed by a press conference at Election Bhaban in the city where EC Member Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury spoke with journalists about the EC decision.
“We had a target primarily to announce schedule today (November 4). In the changed atmosphere, we all (EC members) agreed on announcing schedule on November 8,” Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said.
He said CEC will deliver a speech for the nation to mark announcement of election schedule at a convenient time. “It may be in the afternoon,” he hinted.
He said, the election will be held within 45 days countdown from the date of announcing schedule. “EC wants to discharge its duty of holding Parliamentary election by December,” he said, adding that, “There is a Constitutional obligation to complete election within January 28.”
The EC’s decision on announcing schedule date came at a time when Dr Kamal Hossain led Jatiya Oikyafront requested the Commission not to disclose schedule until conclusion of ongoing dialogue between the government and opposition political parties.
Jatiya Oikyafront again sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 4 seeking more time for dialogue for an inclusive election. The alliance already held a dialogue with the government delegation led by Prime Minister on November 1.
Meanwhile, the commission members led by CEC met President Abdul Hamid on November 1 and informed him about preparations for holding the parliamentary polls in a free and fair manner.
The CEC told reporters that President expressed satisfaction over the EC preparations and gave them green signal to move ahead towards the election.
On October 31, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmad told reporters that the election schedule will be announced by first week of November. Again on November 3, he reiterated the EC’s stance over the announcement of election schedule.
However, the EC held another meeting on Sunday (November 4) and finalised rules on use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) enabling voters to cast votes through electronic sensor in the upcoming 11th Parliamentary election.
According to EC, mandates cast through an EVM could not be altered, tempered or hacked are the main security features. The EVMs will not have any network, internet connection, computer control or remote frequency. Thus, it is beyond any tempering or manipulation of people’s mandates.
The commission has been tasked to procure 1.5 lakh EVMs at the cost of Tk. 3,825 crore. The EC has taken preparation to use EVMs in limited scale while traditional ballot papers will also be used in the upcoming general election for majority of voters.
Use of EVMs in the upcoming parliamentary polls needed amendment to relevant laws, which was performed by promulgamation of Representation of People Order (RPO) by President Abdul Hamid on October 1 as an alternative to the obligation of passing a bill in the Parliament.
“The EC has adapted relevant rules on use of EVMs in its meeting today,” Joint Secretary Abul Kashem told reporters at the EC secretariat on Sunday.
He said one of the vital provisions of the rules is three to five years of imprisonment in case of misuse of EVMs by either party.
By President’s promulgamation, the law gives the EC authority to introduce the system, approve format and software for EVMs. Earlier, the cabinet approved the proposal for use of EVMs in upcoming national polls.
In its meeting yesterday, the EC also approved guidelines for online submission of nomination papers by candidates.
