EC in emergency meeting, may change city polls date

The election commission is likely to change the date of elections to two Dhaka city corporations as it sat in an emergency meeting on Saturday afternoon, UNB reports. 

Amid widespread criticisms and movement by a group of Dhaka University students, the commission's started the meeting at 4:00pm at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

Different quarters, including the Hindu community, have been demanding the deferment of the elections to the Dhaka north and south city corporations slated for 30 January that coincide with Saraswati Puja.

Even major mayoral candidates also urged the EC to reschedule the election 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 to the two Dhaka city corporations slated for 30 January.

A group of DU students, led by vice-president of Jagannath Hall Students' Union Utpal Biswas and general secretary Kajal Das, went on hunger strike on the campus on Thursday afternoon demanding deferment of the polls that coincide with Saraswati Puja.

Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad general secretary Rana Dasgupta warned that they will resist the elections on 30 January as those coincide with Saraswati Puja.

The election commission (EC) announced the date on 22 December last year.

Besides, an appeal was filed on Thursday with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order that turned down a writ petition seeking deferment of the 30 January elections as it coincides with Saraswati Puja of the Hindu Community.

The Supreme Court chamber judge is likely to hold a hearing on the appeal on Sunday next.