The Election Commission has almost completed its preparatory works for the next parliamentary polls while the countdown to the polls begins today as per the Constitution.
However, Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal will meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin on November 5 to discuss the announcement of the election schedule and preparation for the polls, according to Bangabhaban.
Earlier, the commission had sought appointment of President Mohammed Shahabuddin on a date between November 1 and 5 for a meeting to discuss the 12th national parliament election.
EC officials said they would hold a full commission meeting after the meeting with the president. The schedule of the 12th national election may be finalised at that meeting.
Returning officers for the polls may be appointed.
The CEC will then announce the schedule for the general election through an address to the nation on Bangladesh Television, they also said.
According to article 123 (3) (a), the next general election must be held before 90 days of expiry of parliament’s tenure. Article 123(3) (b) stipulates that in case of a dissolution of parliament otherwise than by reason of such expiration, the election must be held within 90 days after such dissolution.
The 11th parliament began its first sitting on January 30, 2019.
EC secretary Md Jahangir Alam said the commission would declare the polls schedule of the upcoming parliamentary polls in the first half of November.
Even though the two main parties are still in opposition regarding the election. BNP has called a three-day blockade programme across the country for restoration of a caretaker government.
The commission is keeping overall preparations according to the constitutional obligation for holding the election. EC held a meeting with top officials of law enforcement and intelligence agencies on Monday.
They informed the commission that the overall situation was good and there were no big obstacles to holding the upcoming parliamentary polls.
EC officials said the EC has already completed the major tasks including updating voter lists and re-fixing of parliamentary delimitation ahead of the next general polls, amendments of the Representative of People Order (RPO) and the election related laws have been finalised.
Setting up the polling centres is also in the final stages. A draft list of 42,380 polling centres has been drafted. The final list of the polling centres will be published as a gazette when the polls election schedule is announced.
The commission has also given registration to two new political parties ahead of the election. Sixty six local organisations have been registered as election observers.
