DHAKA, 28 January 2008 — The Bangladesh High Court yesterday ordered the Election Commission and the interim government to explain the delay in announcing a schedule for general elections.
The court also asked the poll panel and the army-backed government to explain why they did not hold the elections within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament which is a constitutional requirement.
“The Election Commission has already violated the Constitution by failing to hold elections within 90 days and it has no legal authority to extend the period any more,” a petition filed in the court said.
Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, Election Commission secretary and the law secretary have been asked by the High Court in Dhaka to reply within four weeks.
Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam gave the order after hearing the writ petition filed by a lawyer, Masud Reza Sobhan, on Thursday.
According to the petitioner, although there is a constitutional obligation to hold elections within 90 days after the dissolution of Parliament, the election was deferred in the name of preparing a new voters’ list and national identity cards.
The Election Commission has said that elections will be held by the end of the current year after completion of the voters’ list.
“If the voters’ list is prepared in all areas of the country simultaneously, the election can be held earlier,” the lawyer said in his petition.
