Election schedule expected within 48 hours
Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission is poised to announce the schedule for the 13th national election within the next 48 hours, signalling the final stretch toward polls planned for the first half of February.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told reporters on Tuesday that the announcement is likely today evening (10 December) or the following day (11 December), depending on the outcome of a scheduled meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin and senior EC officials on Tuesday afternoon.
Masud, speaking after a briefing at the EC headquarters following a meeting between Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, said all preparations for the CEC’s address have been completed.
The speech—set to outline the election timetable and urge cooperation from political parties and stakeholders—will be recorded on 10 December for broadcast on BTV and Bangladesh Betar.
He also confirmed that postal ballots will not feature any symbol belonging to parties that have been banned or suspended.
Final legal consultations underway CEC Nasir, who met the chief justice at the Supreme Court earlier in the day, said preparations have reached the “final stage” and that the election schedule would be announced within this week.
He was welcomed at the Supreme Court by Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui before holding a meeting with the chief justice at 2:05pm yesterday.
Election officials say the consultations with the judiciary may cover several unresolved legal issues, including pending petitions related to constituency boundary demarcations and cases filed by candidates seeking reinstatement of their electoral symbols.
Nasir Uddin has requested the chief justice to assign 300 judicial officials during the upcoming national election.
“Judicial support is essential to ensure a fair election. The chief justice has assured full cooperation,” he told reporters at the Supreme Court premises after a meeting with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed yesterday.
Earlier, the full commission met the chief adviser to brief him on election preparations and expressed appreciation for the government’s cooperation.
Interim government issues warning on “illegal gatherings” Amid the countdown to the schedule announcement, the interim government has urged all groups to refrain from any “illegal or unauthorised” rallies, assemblies or protest programmes from the moment the election timetable is declared until the polls are held.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser said any activities that cause public inconvenience or defy legal restrictions will be “strictly controlled.”
“Any unauthorised assembly or disruptive movement after the announcement of the schedule will be dealt with firmly. Those who participate in such illegal gatherings will be brought under the law,” the statement read.
State Minister for Home (Adviser) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, in the same statement, called for restraint, reminding all actors that the country is now entering an election-focused period.
“Whatever demands or grievances anyone may have should be placed before the post-election government,” he said. “We hope no one will create tension or disrupt the environment during this crucial time.”
With the final consultations set and the government’s warning issued, all eyes are now on the Election Commission as the country awaits the formal countdown to the February election.