Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda reiterated on Tuesday that time schedule of upazila elections will not be deferred.
Holding a sudden meeting with a four member delegation of BNP led by its Vice Chairman MK Anwar, he said "Time of upazila elections will not changed and it will be held on the announced dates. There are adequate ballot boxes in our hands and 24 crore ballot papers will be published in due time."
Talking to reporters, MK Anwar said that BNP and its alliances will participate in the coming parliamentary elections after completing the party's registration.
"If upazila elections are held within so short period after the general polls, it will create an administrative complication in the country", he added. He claimed to have demanded of the CEC deferment of upazila elections for one month and withdrawal of the state of emergency.
Meanwhile LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said that it is possible to hold upazila election on the very date announced by the Chief Adviser following the decision of the EC. He added the government will extend all supports to the EC in holding upazila elections in the stipulated time.
He said "Holding of upazila election should not be opposed to create an impression in public mind that the political parties are against such local government polls."
Talking to reporters, Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka and four newly elected City Corporation Mayors after attending a programme with LGRD spoke in favour of deferment of upazila polls.
Sadek Hossain Khoka said "As you will hold upazila elections after the parliamentary polls, give some time for such elections to be held latter."
Sylhet Mayor Badruddin Kamran said "If our party comes to power, it will hold not only upazila parishad polls but also zila parishad elections."


Source: The Bangladesh Today