EC ready to hold city polls

Despite the ongoing political unrest, the Election Commission is prepared to hold city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong shortly.

Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad claimed this while talking to newsmen on Wednesday.

He, however, said the commission would hold the elections for two city corporations in Dhaka once disputed areas of some wards are properly demarcated.

"We can't proceed unless we have at hand the gazette notification on demarcation of areas of the city corporations," said the CEC after a meeting at National Economic Council.

The commission under his leadership earlier expressed willingness to announce schedules for elections for currently bifurcated city corporations -- Dhaka South and Dhaka North.

The government, too, once indicated holding of the city polls. But no ballot has been arranged in Dhaka after the last of such elections in 2002.

Kazi Rakubuddin said the commission wants wide participation of all political parties in the city polls although local government elections are supposed to be a non-party affair.

Asked if the commission has any role to play in resolving the political crisis, the CEC said, "We are neither head of the state, nor any organ (of the state). Political crisis must be resolved politically. And our terms of reference have been defined in the constitution."

When asked about the commission's preparedness in case of mid-term polls, Kazi Rakibuddin, who was also the CEC during the 2014 general elections boycotted by the BNP and most other parties, said the commission has to "remain ready constantly" for holding elections.