EC to take decision on referendum after formal government directive: CEC

The Election Commission (EC) will take decision regarding the referendum only after receiving a formal directive from the government, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said today (13 November).

"Once we are formally informed, we will sit together at the commission, discuss the matter, and then share our opinion," he said while responding to questions from journalists during a dialogue with political parties at the Election Commission in Dhaka.

In responding to another question about the EC's opinion on holding referendum and national election same day, the chief election commissioner said that he was attending a dialogue so he could not hear the chief adviser's speech. 

"I don't know what he said or didn't say. Since I haven't heard it in detail, it would not be appropriate to comment," added Nasir Uddin.

Earlier today, the chief adviser announced that a referendum on implementing the July Charter will be held on the same day as the upcoming national election.

However, EC officials said that there are certain advantages to holding both the national election and the referendum on the same day. It would significantly reduce costs, as no separate arrangements would be required.

According to them, combined polling could cut expenses by nearly two-thirds.

The EC officials also added that the referendum could be conducted by simply adding rooms with one extra ballot each to the polling centres. This would require a few more polling officials and additional ballot boxes.

However, they cautioned that counting might take considerably longer, possibly continuing into the night in some cases.

The total expenditure for the 13th National Parliamentary Election has been estimated at approximately Tk2,800 crore. 

Conducting the referendum simultaneously would require an additional Tk300–400 crore, while holding it separately would cost nearly the same amount, officials said.