Dhaka – Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Friday hinted that the scope for an election with participation of all political party on January 5 is getting thin with the passage of time.“It’s going to be difficult, but the scope is there always. If all (political parties) reach a realistic decision, then they’ll tell us how we’ll proceed (for holding an inclusive election),” he told reporters at the Election Commission secretariat.
The CEC came up with the remark replying to a query whether there is scope for inclusive polls as the deadline for the withdrawal of candidature expired on Friday.
Responding to another query, the CEC said it is not the commission rather the returning officers who will take the final decision over allocation of electoral symbols among the contesting candidates.
“The returning officers will allocate the symbols as per the law,” Rakibuddin said while leaving his office in the evening.
On November 25, the CEC announced schedule for the country’s 10 parliamentary elections setting the balloting date for January 5. – UNB
