Dhaka – The Election Commission (EC) Sunday said the election to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) would be held when the local government will announce the post vacant for the demise of Annisul Huq.“The local government will issue a circular saying the mayor post of DNCC has been vacant due to the demise of Annisul Huq. Then the by-election will be held within 90 days from the date of announcement of the post vacant,” Secretary in-charge of EC Helal Uddin Ahmed said.
He told this to the journalists after hailing from a meeting headed by the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda with the UNDP delegation at the election Bhaban in the capital.
As the law of the local government election has been amended with the inclusion that the local government elections in City Corporation, Municipality and Upazila will be held under the banner of the registered political parties, the DNCC poll will also be held under party symbols.
It would be the first election for DNCC when the candidates of the registered political parties will contest the by-poll with party symbols.
“The local government elections are being held under the party banner. This election will be the same,” the secretary said.
Asked about whether the new 18 wards added to the DNCC will come under the process of the by-election, Helal Uddin said, “It’s difficult to say anything about it right now whether the by-elections will be held in the new areas or not. But we have already prepared the voter list of these areas. The Commission will take the decision.”
“Right now it cannot be said whether elections to the wards will be held or not. It would be scrutinized,” he added.
In July the Local Government Division added 36 wards to Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation.
Earlier, Dhaka North had 36 wards and 18 new wards are added rising it to 54 while Dhaka South wards have got 75 wards from the previous 57.
Annisul Huq died on November 30 in a hospital in London after nearly three months’ treatment. He was elected mayor of DNCC on 28 Apr 2015. – Staff Reporter
