The Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce the schedule for the 11th parliamentary polls within a week, EC secretary Md Helal Uddin said yesterday (Wednesday). Earlier, the EC had said it wanted to hold the elections by the end of December. Keeping that in mind, the commission was making preparations, it had added.

Before the announcement of the election schedule, the full commission, led by chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, will meet President Md Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on November 1 for ceremonial permission to announce the schedule.

The EC said it would announce the schedule after holding a full commission meeting. EC sources said the commission will hold its 38th meeting at 3pm on November 3, led by the CEC, to discuss review of the rules of the Representation of People Order (RPO), 1972, preparations for 11th parliamentary polls and other issues.

As part of the preparations, the EC yesterday held an inter-ministerial meeting and instructed representatives of different ministries with necessary directives ahead of the elections.

EC secretary Helal Uddin said the education ministry has been asked to complete all annual exams by December 10.  “Polling stations will be set up at educational institutions. Besides, teachers will act as presiding officers and polling staff. So, all exams should be completed by December 10,” he added. Helal Uddin was talking to journalists at his office at Election Bhaban after the inter-ministerial meeting,

In reply to a query about the election schedule, the Ec secretary said: “The schedule will be announced within a week. Before it, the RPO will be amended by issuing an ordinance as the Parliament session has ended.”

He also said the home ministry has been asked to seize illegal arms, arrest drug addicts and arrest terror mongers to ensure a peaceful ambiance during elections. Besides, banks have been told to make a list of loan defaulters or bill defaulters before announcement of the schedule.

The secretary said they have held meetings with the meteorological department, which said there is forecast of severe cold at the end of December and drizzling in the first 10 days of January.

He also said the ministry concerned has been instructed to facilitate the visa processing for foreign observers at the elections. The public administration ministry has been told to provide adequate number of magistrates to be used before and after the elections.

The meeting has also taken it seriously to remove all sorts of election campaign-related materials—banners, posters, festoons, archway—within seven days of the announcement of the schedule.

The EC secretary said the Tax Identification (TIN) Number has not been made compulsory while submitting nomination. “There will be many candidates who do not have TIN. Even a farmer without TIN can be a candidate. Those who have TIN can submit it, but it is not compulsory,” he added.

The inter-ministerial meeting also discussed about 41,000 polling centres. If any refurbishment is necessary, it will be done.  The meeting also discussed how election materials would be sent to 41 inaccessible areas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by helicopter. The information ministry has been instructed to make arrangements for broadcasting directives of the EC about elections on the state-run radio and television.