Election Commission (EC) acting Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed has said the schedule for the mayoral by-election of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will be announced on the second week of January, 2018, while the election will be held in the last week of February.
Helaluddin made the statement while talking to reporters after a meeting at the Election Commission office in Agargaon area of Dhaka on Sunday.
“We have discussed the matter at the commission meeting. The commission believes that there are no legal barriers in holding the DNCC mayoral by-election. So, the commission has decided to announce the polls schedule,” he said.
The commission official added: “The schedules will be announced for the mayoral by-polls, and for the two city corporation councilor posts. However, voting will be held on the same day.”
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Responding to a query, the acting secretary said: “Those who secure the voting rights for the first time in January will be able to vote in the polls.”
When questioned about the legality of the by-election, he said: “The commission would not have decided to announce the election schedule, if there was any legal hurdle preventing the polls.”
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Helaluddin also added that those who will get elected as the mayor and councilors, will serve in their posts during the tenure of the incumbent city corporation.
In could be noted, DNCC mayor post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30.
According to the local government (City Corporation) laws, election must be held within 90 days of the seat falling vacant.
Awami League candidate Annisul won the DNCC election by a big margin on April 28, 2015.This article was first published on Bangla Tribune