Post subject: Election shifts a day back to January 22
Dhaka, Dec 18 (bdnews24.com) – The Election Commission Monday advanced the voting day from January 23 to January 22. Other election timelines remain unchanged.
The main election office shifted the voting day as Hindus' religious festival Swaraswati Puja coincided with the earlier schedule.
EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar announced the new schedule from a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police at the National Economic Council auditorium.
The meeting was designed to coordinate roles of different agencies through the elections.
On December 7, the commission for the second time announced the January 23 deadline to hold the polls. The deadline for submitting nominations is December 21 while December 22 is for selection of the nominations and December 28 is for withdrawal of candidature.
Acting chief election commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman asked district administrators and police chiefs to act for a fair election.
"I hope you will present another victory of democracy to the nation by holding a free and fair election," Rahman said. "We are going through many obstacles to correct the electoral roll. We are trying to make a flawless list."
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina from a huge rally in Paltan Monday rejected the earlier polls schedule and repeated her demands for removal of controversial election commissioner SM Zakaria and additional secretary Mohammad Jakoria.
Hasina asked her supporters to enforce a dawn-to-dusk hartal across the country on Thursday, the deadline for submitting nomination papers.
In the meeting, Zakaria said: "Hearing speeches from all of you present here, I have become so hopeful that all frustrations have vanished."
"I have observed many elections at home and abroad. I am confident about your expertise. Only you can ensure a free, impartial and fair election," he said.
Fellow commissioner Mudabbir Hossain Chowdhury said: "The caretaker government is non-partisan and impartial. We are also the same. We have to prove that in the elections."
