Bangladesh EC rejects opposition demand for further deferral of polls

Dhaka, Nov. 13 (PTI): Bangladesh poll authority Tuesday rejected the opposition’s demand to further defer the general elections, a day after it delayed the polls by a week to December 30. Last week, the Bangladesh Election Commission announced that the 11th general election will be held on December 23. The Jatiya Oikya Front (NUF) a political alliance of opposition parties that includes the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged the Election Commission to defer the polls by a month. “There is no scope of delaying further the polls as the new Parliament must be formed by January 29,” Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda said while briefing returning officers here. He instructed the election officials to carry out their duties “neutrally” and “without any fear”. “We have considered a lot to set the date on December 30,” Huda said. He said the Parliament will have to sit on January 29 after the election. “So, there is not enough time. We will need to publish gazettes for all 300 constituencies after the polls.