Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said on Sunday, the Election Commission (EC) is fully focused on the next parliamentary polls, not any other election.
After the commission's second meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commission (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital he was replying to the question, whether the commission will hold the local body elections as test cases before the general election.
Sanaullah said, "I would like to say categorically that our overall focus is on the national election. It would not be the right thing to hold any other election as that would disrupt the national election."
He said, "EC cancelled the National Identity Registration Act and restored the related act of 2010. Now activities of National Identification will remain under the Election Commission."
About the proposal that came from different quarters over holding the local bodies' elections simultaneously with the general election, Sanaullah said the proposal was not realistic.
"If preparations for the national election are in place, preparations for all other elections are naturally completed," he said.
"In the changing situation, a reform commission is working, and if any laws or regulations need to be amended, there is a set timeline for that.
"In Bangladesh's reality, weather is a factor too. Nevertheless, we will work according to the decisions made by the relevant ministry and the reform commission," he said.
"However, if the government wants us to hold all the elections simultaneously, our position is that holding all the elections together will not be appropriate. It is also not feasible to hold all local government elections with the general election," he said.
"So far, no letter has been issued by the local government ministry regarding this matter. However, we have proactively discussed this issue," he said.
