GCC polls on June 26

Staff Correspondent: The Election Commission (EC) has set June 26 for the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls which was stayed by the court.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K M Nurul Huda held at the Election Bhaban at Agargaon of the capital on Sunday.

EC acting secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told this to the reporters after the meeting.

On Thursday, the Appellate Division asked the EC to hold the GCC Election by June 28.

The Appellate Division passed the order after hearing three separate appeal petitions filed by the Election Commission and two mayoral candidates--Hasan Uddin Sarkar of BNP and Zahangir Alam of Awami League.

On May 6, the High Court stayed the Gazipur City Corporation election which was scheduled to be held on May 15.

It also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inclusion of six moujas of Dhaka district into GCC should not be declared illegal.

The government on January 16, 2013 published a gazette incorporating six moujas of Shimulia union of Savar upazila (South Boroibari, Domna, Shibrampur, West Panishail, South Panishail and Domnag) under Gazipur City Corporation but according to law, the GCC was formed with Gazipur and Tongi municipalities.

ABM Azharul Islam Suruj, Shimulia union parishad chairman of Savar, filed the writ on May 6 morning challenging the legality of the gazette as the Election Commission announced the election schedule incorporating six moujas of Dhaka district, which is illegal.

CEC KM Nurul Huda announced the election schedule for Gazipur and Khulna city corporations on March 31.

risingbd/Dhaka/May 13, 2018/Hasibul Islam/A K Azad