Dhaka city polls deferred for Feb 1
Different quarters, including the Hindu community, demanded deferring the elections previously slated for January 30
The Election Commission has rescheduled the election dates of the Dhaka North and South City Corporations in the face of widespread criticism and protests.
After an emergency meeting held yesterday, the commission announced that the polls of the city corporations would be held on February 1.
The meeting was held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
Different quarters, including the Hindu community, demanded deferring the elections previously slated for January 30 – also the date of the Hindu community's Saraswati Puja.
The call for rescheduling the date also came from some mayoral candidates so that the Hindu community can smoothly celebrate the Saraswati Puja.
Meanwhile, Dhaka University students continued their fast unto death programme for the third consecutive day on Saturday, demanding deferment of the polls.
A group of Dhaka University students, led by Vice-President of Jagannath Hall Students' Union Utpal Biswas and General Secretary Kajal Das, went on hunger strike unto death to this end.
The Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Advocate Rana Dasgupta also warned of resisting the elections on January 30.
Earlier on December 22 last year, the Election Commission fixed January 30 for the polls. Later, the High Court turned down a writ petition seeking deferment of the elections.
An appeal was also filed with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order last week.
In another development, amidst the demand for changing the city corporation polls, the first exam (Bangla 1st paper) of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and other equivalent examinations, previously slated to begin on February 1, has been rescheduled to February 3.
Education Minister Dipu Moni confirmed the matter on Saturday.