Don't defer polls schedule declaration

Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Juktofront yesterday demanded that the election commission (EC) does not defer schedule for the 11th parliament election under pressure from any political alliance.

“Juktofront and general people expect that the election commission will not bow down to any pressure from any alliance for deferring election schedule,” Maj (retd) MA Mannan, a top leader of Juktofront told reporters after meeting with the EC.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, four election commissioners and high officials of the EC were present at the meeting, held at the Nirbachon Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon.

Earlier in the day, Juktofront in a letter to CEC requested him to sit with them to discuss the general election. Hours later, the EC invited a Juktofront delegation for meeting.

A nine-member delegation of Juktofront led by Mannan attended the meeting.

The EC will sit with a delegation of Jatiya Party-led United National Alliance this morning over the upcoming polls.  An Awami League delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's political adviser HT Imam is also scheduled to meet with the CEC and other election commissioners today, sources said.

Juktofront has long been demanding reconstitution of the EC and holding of the election under a non-party government following dissolution of parliament.

But yesterday, Juktofront leaders backtracked from their earlier stance, saying they have confidence in the present EC to be able to hold a free, fair and impartial election.

“Election commission has promised us that they want to create history through holding a free and fair election. CEC and the election commissioners also told us that they are committed to holding the next election in a free and impartial manner,” Mannan said.

Meanwhile, CEC KM Nurul Huda yesterday told reporters that the election can be delayed if all political parties want, but there is no scope to defer the announcement of polls schedule.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after a training programme at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon.