DCs asked to finalise list of polling stations by Sept 24

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the deputy commissioners to finalise the list of polling stations for the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections by September 24.

Letters have been sent to senior district election officers and district election officers to take appropriate action in this regard, EC officials said.

Besides, copies have been given to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO).

Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers are the conveners of the committee that determines polling stations at the field level.

Under a new policy enacted by the Election Commission, a seven-member committee has been formed at the district level with the DC as the convener to determine polling stations for the parliamentary elections. The committee consists of the divisional commissioner's representative, superintendent of police, metropolitan police commissioner's representative, district education officer and district primary education officer. Senior district election officer or district election officer has been made member secretary of the committee.

On the other hand, a five-member committee has been formed at the upazila level with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer as its head. The committee consists of upazila education officer, upazila secondary education officer and officer-in-charge. And the upazila or thana election officer has been made member secretary.

In a letter sent to the district election officers, the EC has set a deadline for the concerned committee to finalise the list of polling stations.

The last date for publishing the draft voters list is August 16, the last date for taking claims and objections on that list is August 31, the last date for disposal of claims and objections is September 11 and the final list of draft polling stations has been given till September 17.

The election organising body has asked the concerned committee to send the final list of the draft polling stations to the EC secretariat by September 24.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the schedule for the 12th parliamentary election may be announced in the last week of October or the first week of November.

The election is scheduled to be held between the last week of December and the first week of January.

At the time of the 11th parliamentary election, there were 10.42 crore voters. At that time, 40,199 polling stations were set up.

At present, the number of voters in the country is 11.90 crore. Therefore, the number of polling stations is expected to increase further.