No more deferring polls: EC

The Election Commission yesterday said it would not defer any further the parliamentary polls scheduled for December 30.

"There is no scope for deferral of election. Jatiya Oikyafront's demand for deferring the polls by a month is not logical and realistic,” said EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed at a press conference at the capital's Nirbachan Bhaban.

Besides, the commission was considering deployment of members of army and Border Guard Bangladesh at least “two, seven or 10 days” before the election, he said.

Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance led by the BNP and several other opposition parties, met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday and demanded that the election be deferred by a month.

In response, the CEC said the EC would declare its decision following a commission meeting.

The EC will have to perform some duties, keeping the legal and constitutional aspects in mind. It would require time. This is why the EC cannot defer the polls anymore, the EC secretary said.

He also mentioned that the Biswa Ijtema would be held in January which was also a reason for not delaying the election. However, seeking anonymity, a top official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told The Daily Star that the Biswa Ijtema would be postponed due to election and security concerns.

As a response to the EC's decision, the Secretary General of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star that the decision indicated it did not want a free and fair election.

"It proves that EC's decision is nothing but a reflection of the government's wish," Fakhrul said.

On November 8, the EC set December 23 as the date for the election. Later, on November 12, the commission revised the election schedule and declared that the election would be held on December 30 following Oikyafront's demand for deferring the polls.

EC WARNS AROS

In the daylong briefing yesterday, the EC secretary asked the assistant returning officers of Chittagong, Sylhet and Barishal divisions to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates.

No violation of code of conducts during the polls would be tolerated. The AROs should appoint neutral presiding and assistant presiding officers for a free and fair election, Helal added.

He urged the AROs to hold meetings with local law enforcers, executive magistrates and others to review the election atmosphere.

Indicating Wednesday's clash between police and BNP activists in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office, he then asked EC officials to be cautious about "untoward incidents".

At least 20 BNP men were injured – some were hit by rubber bullets -- in the clash which broke out around 12:45pm when police tried to disperse party men during the sale of nomination forms.

Meanwhile, the cabinet division yesterday also issued a letter asking all the officials under relevant ministries and divisions to be neutral while performing election duties and assist the EC for a free and fair election.

EC CONSIDERS ARMY DEPLOYMENT

Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) would be deployed at least a week or 10 days before the election, said the EC secretary Helal. He also asked the AROs to take necessary actions for arranging accommodations for the army and BGB personnel.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar warned the AROs of stern actions for any failure or negligence in performing their poll-time duties.

OIKYAFRONT SEEKS PERMISSION TO USE BNP'S SYMBOL

Ganoforum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury, on behalf of the newly formed political alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, handed over a letter to the EC yesterday, seeking permission for using the BNP's electoral symbol "sheaf of paddy" in the election.

Jatiya Oikyafront members -- Ganoforum, a faction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led by ASM Rob, and Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Party -- informed the EC about its decision of using BNP's symbol, Helal said.

On the other hand, Fazle Hossain Badshah, general secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh, a component of the AL-led alliance, told The Daily Star that they had informed the EC about using Awami League's electoral symbol “boat” under the alliance.

EC CANCELS ALL LEAVE

EC cancelled all sort of leaves of returning officers, assistant returning officers and field-level officials till December 30, a deputy secretary of the EC told The Daily Star.

A directive in this regard was sent to all the offices on Wednesday night, he added.

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS WANT TO SEND OBSERVERS

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday said foreign diplomats were pleased with the political consensus on the upcoming election and many of them wanted to send observers in the polls.

"The CEC announced new date for polls. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held dialogues with different political parties, including the Jatiya Oikyafront. It seems all are very pleased as the election process is moving forward," the foreign minister told reporters after a briefing with the diplomats at the state guest house, Padma, yesterday evening.