EC to announce Khulna, Gazipur polls schedule 31 Mar

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The election commission (EC) will declare the schedule of Gazipur and Khulna city corporation elections on 31 March.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the commission on Monday, said EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed while speaking to journalists.

Replying to a question, the EC secretary said the commission would use Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in different local government elections.

Based on the voters’ feedback, they will decide if the EVM will be used in the national election, he added.

UNB adds: The five-year tenure of Gazipur City Corporation will end on 4 September while that of Khulna on 25 September.

The EC has a legal obligation to complete the election to Gazipur between 8 March and 4 September and that to Khulna between 30 March and 25 September.

The EC secretary said the commission meeting discussed elections to five cities -- Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Gazipur -- and decided to arrange elections to the cities following the dates of the maiden meetings of elected representatives of those cities.

He said the EC will declare polls schedules for Gazipur and Khulna cities taking the final decision in this regard on 31 March.

Helaluddin, however, said the EC may not announce election schedule for three remaining city corporations -- Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet -- on 31 March.