Elections likely by Oct 2008 in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Oct 10: The ninth parliamentary elections in Bangladesh are likely to be held by October next year if the voter list is completed by July.

Addressing mediapersons at the EC secretariat, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said, ''The election can be held by October 2008 if the work of voter list with photographs is completed by July.'' He added that the target earlier was December, 2008, but the election may be held one or two months prior to that if the preparation of voter list WAs completed by July.

Talking about the progress of the enrollment in voter list, he said ''The voter list may be completed before July if work continues in this way.'' The process of enrollment began in July this year at Sripur municipality in Gazipur with the help of donated equipment, and now work is in progress at 34 places across the country.

UNI