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Upazila, JS Polls

Schedule not before September 19

Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission (EC) is unlikely to announce its decisions on upazila and parliamentary polls before Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, now on a state visit to China, returns on September 19.
It wants to make the crucial announcements after consulting the caretaker government chief. In the meantime, it will try to hold talks with the BNP, said EC sources.
As per his statement last week. Chief Election Commissioner (CEO ATM Shamsul Huda was supposed to come up with a decision on upazila polls and a specific date for the national election yesterday. But that did not happen as the commission now seeks to discuss the issues with BNP before reaching any decisions. The change of plan follows the latest developments on the political front.
In the last two days, the polls chief met the CA twice-first on Saturday and then yesterday.
Talking about the meeting that took place yesterday afternoon. Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said they mainly discussed the upazila and parliamentary elections.
"Well inform the government about our decisions on his [CA] return." Sakhawat told The Daily Star.
He said the EC is weighing up two options--organising polls to some upazilas in October or to a large number of those after the general election as demanded by most of the political parties.
At yesterday's meeting, the EC told advisers that any local government polls after October will hamper the preparation for all-important ninth parliamentary election, meeting sources said.
With the national election planned for the third week of December approaching fast, the possibility of upazila polls being held first seems quite slim, said an EC Secretariat official requesting not be named.
CEC Huda yesterday said the EC wants to work out something acceptable all round.
Asked if the parliamentary polls would be held first, he said, "You'll know very soon."
Meanwhile, sources in the EC said the commission is working to sit with BNP in a couple of days. It might contact the party today.
The BNP led four-party alliance will meet tomorrow to discuss schedule and agenda for talks with the EC, according to party sources.
Before leaving his office for CA's, Huda said the EC will decide on the registration of parties, and upazila and parliamentary elections after the dialogue with BNP
"We're waiting for communications from BNR" he told reporters at the EC Secretariat.
Earlier in the day, he met a delegation of some non government organisations, and a group of journalists at the EC Secretariat's conference room.
The commission is ready to sit for dialogue with BNP anytime, he said replying to a query.
It will strive to have opinions of all political parties before making any decision on the elections, he continued. “It's necessary to listen to all. I've had a lot of flak for not having their [BNP'sl views."
He maintained that the parties skipping registration with the EC will not be allowed to contest the upcoming general election.