DNCC mayoral by-polls in last week of Feb

Elections to new wards of DNCC, DSCC as well

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that it will hold the by-elections to the mayoral post of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in the last week of February next year. Besides, the EC said it would hold fresh elections to 36 new wards of both DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) along with the by-elections.There are no legal complications in this respect, it added. The schedule of the by-elections would be announced on the second week of January next year, the acting secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, Helal Uddin Ahmed, told reporters after coming out of a commission meeting, headed by chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda, at Election Bhaban in the capital yesterday. “Three separate elections—by-polls to the mayoral post, fresh elections to 18 new wards (including six reserved seats of DNCC) and 18 other new wards (including six reserved seats

of DSCC)—would be held on the same day. However, three separate schedules would be announced on the same day,” he said. Regarding the tenure of the ward councillors of the new wards, Helal Uddin said: “The tenure of a city corporation is five years as per the law. As a by-election will be held for the remaining period of the DNCC, the tenure of the ward councillors for the new wards would be till the end of the tenure of the city corporation.”

“We have reviewed the laws. There is no necessity to issue any circular in this respect in holding the ward elections. Had there been any legal complications, the commission would not have taken any decision regarding elections to new wards,” he said in reply to a query.

Asked whether new voters can cast votes and become candidates, the EC official said: “The citizens who will be new voters in January can cast votes in the elections, but these new voters will not be candidates, as per the law.”

Asked whether any legal problems can arise regarding the voters of new wards and its tenure, Helal Uddin said: “The EC will place its statements. We cannot make any comment right now.”

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant after the death of its mayor, Annisul Huq, on November 30. The local government announced that the post had fallen vacant on December 1.

The commission will hold the by-polls in the last week of February because the secondary school certificate (SSC) examinations will continue till February 24. Hence, the commission will get four days in that month to hold the polls.

According to Article 16 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, if any post of mayor or councillor of a city corporation falls vacant 180 days before the expiry of their tenures, a by-election to the post shall be held within 90 days after the day it falls vacant to fill up the post for the rest of the tenure.

On the other hand, in August, the local government ministry gave the green light to the EC to hold elections to the new wards of the DNCC and DSCC, but the EC has not held the polls so far. The EC is now going to hold polls to the new 36 wards annexed to the DNCC and DSCC.  

In July, the Local Government Division added 18 wards to Dhaka North and South City Corporations each. After the addition of the existing wards, the number of wards of DNCC stands at 54 (up from the earlier 36 wards), while DSCC got 75 wards instead of the previous 57.

DNCC mayoral by-polls in last week of Feb

Elections to new wards of DNCC, DSCC as well

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that it will hold the by-elections to the mayoral post of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in the last week of February next year. Besides, the EC said it would hold fresh elections to 36 new wards of both DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) along with the by-elections.There are no legal complications in this respect, it added. The schedule of the by-elections would be announced on the second week of January next year, the acting secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, Helal Uddin Ahmed, told reporters after coming out of a commission meeting, headed by chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda, at Election Bhaban in the capital yesterday. Three separate electionsby-polls to the mayoral post, fresh elections to 18 new wards (including six reserved seats of DNCC) and 18 other new wards (including six reserved seats of DSCC)would be held on the same day. However, three separate schedules would be announced on the same day, he said. Regarding the tenure of the ward councillors of the new wards, Helal Uddin said: The tenure of a city corporation is five years as per the law. As a by-election will be held for the remaining period of the DNCC, the tenure of the ward councillors for the new wards would be till the end of the tenure of the city corporation. We have reviewed the laws. There is no necessity to issue any circular in this respect in holding the ward elections. Had there been any legal complications, the commission would not have taken any decision regarding elections to new wards, he said in reply to a query. Asked whether new voters can cast votes and become candidates, the EC official said: The citizens who will be new voters in January can cast votes in the elections, but these new voters will not be candidates, as per the law. Asked whether any legal problems can arise regarding the voters of new wards and its tenure, Helal Uddin said: The EC will place its statements. We cannot make any comment right now. The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant after the death of its mayor, Annisul Huq, on November 30. The local government announced that the post had fallen vacant on December 1. The commission will hold the by-polls in the last week of February because the secondary school certificate (SSC) examinations will continue till February 24. Hence, the commission will get four days in that month to hold the polls. According to Article 16 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, if any post of mayor or councillor of a city corporation falls vacant 180 days before the expiry of their tenures, a by-election to the post shall be held within 90 days after the day it falls vacant to fill up the post for the rest of the tenure. On the other hand, in August, the local government ministry gave the green light to the EC to hold elections to the new wards of the DNCC and DSCC, but the EC has not held the polls so far. The EC is now going to hold polls to the new 36 wards annexed to the DNCC and DSCC. In July, the Local Government Division added 18 wards to Dhaka North and South City Corporations each. After the addition of the existing wards, the number of wards of DNCC stands at 54 (up from the earlier 36 wards), while DSCC got 75 wards instead of the previous 57.