The Election Commission (EC) yesterday published the preliminary list ol 300 parlia mentary constituencies with out any ma|or delimitation of those

We have prepared the draft list ol the constituencies and invited claims objections and sug|£-sUoiis by March 6." said an EC official

He said public hearings will also lake place at least al 10 different places in the country to settle the objections or claims before preparation of the final list which, he said.

will not take more than th fee months.

Fresh delimitation of constituencies is mandatory after a census for the purpose of Parliament elections.

According to the Dellmita tlon of Constituencies Ordinance. 1976 — the constituencies shall be delimited, having regard to administrative convenience. that each constituency Is a compact area and in doing so there shall be due regard as far as practicable, to Hie distribution of population as given in the latest census report.

The Ordinance also says, the validity of the delimitation or formation of any constituency. or any proceedings taken or anything done by or under the authority of the commission, cannot be questioned in or before any court or other authority.

The EC official said the draft report is almost similar to that of 1984 which was based on the 1981 census, barring some exceptions. The latest population census was conducted in 1991.

Meanwhile, the Awami league. in a memorandum to the EC orr Sunday, alleged that there was wide difference in terms of number of voters among the constituencies, delimited in 1984.

The memorandum also said, in the general elections of 1991. the average number of voters in each constituency was 2.07.631. But. the number was more than 2.25.000 In 98 constituencies and below 1.75.000 ip 73 others.

The AL also gave a list of constituencies showing that In some cases the number of vot ers of a particular constituency is almost double that of another constituency.

When his attention was drawn to such allegations, the BC official said "the territorial delimitation Is not always based on population report. Administrative and geographical aspects are also considered in the delimitation process."