Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Friday (October 18) said the schedule for the 13th national election will be announced in the first half of December.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with law enforcement and local government officials in Barishal, he said the Election Commission (EC), following the interim government’s directive, plans to hold the general polls in the first half of February. The CEC clarified that the banned Awami League will not be allowed to contest the election until the ongoing trial against it concludes. “If the trial is completed before the election, the situation will be reviewed accordingly,” he said.
Addressing the student-led National Citizen Party’s (NCP) demand for the Shapla (water lily) symbol, he stated, “Since the party is not listed with the EC, there is no legal scope to allocate that symbol. We cannot act beyond the law.”
Nasir Uddin further assured that the EC would remain free from the influence of any intelligence agency.