Polling day remains unchanged in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Dec 20 (UNI) Bangladesh interim caretaker government today rescheduled the election keeping the polling day unchanged, and decided to request one of the two controversial Election Commissioners, Mr S M Zakaria, to go on leave during the election to ensure proper election environment.

The interim government called upon all the political parties to take part in the coming general election as it claimed the package proposal to create conducive election environment has been implemented.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Council of Advisor at the Presidential House Bangabhaban.

''He (Mr Zakaria) will not be in office during the election as unanimously decided by the Council of Advisors,'' Information Advisor Mahbubul Alam told reporters after the meeting.

The Awami League-led 14-party alliance has been pressing the government to remove two of the Election Commissioners, Mr S M Zakaria and Mr Mudabbir Hossain Chowdhury, from the Commission as part of their demand to ensure a proper election environment Mr Mahbub said the council of advisors has now implemented the entire agreed package proposal and hoped that all the political parties would take part in the election.

He also said the election schedule has been changed keeping the polling day unchanged on December 22.

Replying a question, Mr Mahbub said the election would be held on the basis of the electoral rolls of 2001 along with the supplementary list updated with addition and deletion.

The electoral roll can be updated until the day before the polls. The voter list would be available in the election office for correction, he added.

UNI XC AD GC1959