Election Commission cannot announce the schedule for all 300 parliamentary constituencies without issuing a fresh gazette on the redrawn boundaries.
According to EC sources, the chief election commissioner was expected to announce the polls schedule in a recorded television address on Wednesday night, but a court ruling prevented it.
The commission had reduced one constituency in Bagerhat while increasing one in Gazipur. However, the move was nullified after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s judgement, declaring the EC’s action illegal.
Under these circumstances, if the schedule is to be announced on Thursday, the commission must publish a new gazette on boundary demarcation in line with the court order. Otherwise, under the law, it cannot announce a schedule for all 300 seats. In that case, the schedule would have to be declared for 291 constituencies, excluding Bagerhat and Gazipur districts, sources said.
They added that the commission still has the option to apply for a review, but it is unwilling to do so at present. It believes a review would not be in its favour and has accepted the court verdict.
The court’s written order is expected to reach EC before today’s schedule announcement. “The commission is taking the necessary steps accordingly, and the new gazette will be issued soon,” said an official.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one Election Commissioner said EC has accepted the court verdict and will not seek a review.
However, during a media briefing at Election Commission on Wednesday, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, in response to a question on boundary issues, that the commission had not yet received the court order.
When asked about the election date, one commissioner said, “The CEC will announce it tomorrow. You will know then. But the polling date will likely be either the 8th or the 12th.”
