EC approves election roadmap, announcement expected Thursday
EC wraps up constituency delimitation hearings, final map to be announced soon
The Election Commission (EC) has approved its roadmap to hold the upcoming national election in February, and the announcement could be made on Thursday, according to EC officials.
The roadmap was approved at a meeting attended by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, four other commissioners and the EC secretary today (27 August).
"Everything in the roadmap has been finalised and approved. It is now only being typed. It may be published soon," Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar told reporters after the meeting.
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"You will have to wait [for the announcement] until tomorrow," said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed in response to a question during a press conference at the EC Media Centre.
What is the roadmap?
The election roadmap is expected to cover key issues, including party registration, constituency delimitation, election observers, reforms to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), issuance of rules and regulations, IT-based voter registration, a postal ballot system for expatriates, and procurement of election equipment.
In 2007, the then Election Commission (EC) for the first time announced an election action plan. On 15 July 2007, a one-and-a-half-year plan was unveiled, setting the schedule for announcing the election timetable and holding polls between October and December 2008.
Later, the concept became widely known as a roadmap (a list of tasks to be completed).
In a televised address to the nation on 5 August this year, the current interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced that the 13th parliamentary election would be held before Ramadan next February. The next day, the Chief Adviser's Office sent a letter to the Election Commission to begin preparations.
The chief election commissioner also stated that the election schedule would be announced about two months before polling day. After discussion in its meeting, the EC said it would announce the schedule in the first half of December.
EC to release final constituency delimitation soon
At today's briefing, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission will soon publish the final delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.
"We will discuss and publish the final list (of constituencies) as soon as possible," he said following the conclusion of a four-day hearing on claims and objections regarding the re-demarcation of parliamentary seats.
The EC secretary said the hearings on claims, complaints and recommendations over 84 constituencies in 33 districts were completed.
Replying to a question, Akhtar Ahmed said the commission won't touch any other constituency in the final delimitation beyond 84 parliamentary seats.
EC holds 1,893 hearings on constituency boundaries in 4 days
The Election Commission has conducted 1,893 hearings across the country on the draft parliamentary constituency boundaries over the past four days.
Election Commission Information Officer Shariful Alam said among the total cases heard, 1,185 were objections, while 708 were suggestions in favour.
Today, the fourth and final day alone, 260 hearings were held regarding 18 parliamentary constituencies across 12 districts. Among these, 259 were objections and just one was a suggestion.
Earlier, on 30 July, the EC had published a draft delimitation of the 300 constituencies, proposing boundary changes in 39 constituencies across 14 districts.
