Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The ninth parliamentary election and upazila polls will now be held on December 29, 2008 and January 22, 2008 respectively, the Election Commission announced the revised schedules on Sunday.
"We hope all the political parties accept the revised schedules and take part in the elections in a festive mode," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A T M Shamsul Huda said while announcing the fresh schedules at his EC office in the capital, Dhaka.
Earlier, the dates for holding the national and upazila elections were December 18, 2008 and December 28 respectively.
Under the fresh schedules, the last date for submission of nomination papers has been deferred further by seven days to November 30, 2008 from November 23 for the national election, he said.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have been fixed on December 3 and December 4, 2008 while December 11, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from the parliamentary polls, Dr. Huda told reporters.
Announcing the revised schedule of the upazila elections, the CEC said the last date for submission of nomination papers has been re-fixed on December 13, 2008.
The revised dates for the scrutiny of nomination papers have also been fixed on December 17, 18 and 19, 2008 while December 31, 2008 has been fixed as the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures from upazila polls, according to the fresh schedules.
"After having talks with the major political parties - the BNP-led four-part alliance and the Awami League-backed 14-party alliance -- we have tried to reach an acceptable position regarding the new election schedules," the CEC noted.
BBN/SI/SS/AD-24November08-9:56 AM (BST)