EC amends schedule for national polls

The Election Commission (EC) has amended the schedule for the 13th National Parliament election, reducing the time for filing appeals against Returning Officers' decisions on nomination papers by two days and increasing the appeal disposal period by two days.

The commission made the modifications to the schedule through a gazette notification on November 18.

According to the amended EC gazette, the period for filing appeals against the Returning Officers' decisions on nomination paper scrutiny will be from Monday, January 5 to Friday, January 9, instead of from Monday, January 5 to Sunday, January 11. The period for disposing of the appeals will be from Saturday, January 10 to Sunday, January 18, instead of from Monday, January 12 to Sunday, January 18.

The EC notification stated that as it is necessary to hold a general election of members of parliament under Article 65 of the Constitution for the purpose of constituting the parliament, the Election Commission, in accordance with Article 11(1) of the Representation of the People Order-1972, hereby calls upon the electors to elect one member from each constituency for constituting the parliament and announces the following schedule for holding the said election:

The last date for submitting nomination papers to the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer is Monday, December 29. The date for scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer is from Tuesday, December 30 to Sunday, January 4. The period for filing appeals against the Returning Officer's decision on nomination paper scrutiny is from Monday, January 5 to Friday, January 9. The period for disposing of appeals is from Saturday, January 10 to Sunday, January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Tuesday, January 20. The date for allotment of symbols is Wednesday, January 21. Polling day is Thursday, February 12.

The 13th National Parliament election and the fourth public referendum will be held on February 12. Voting will be conducted from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm without a break through ballot papers in transparent ballot boxes. Prospective candidates for the parliament election have 10 more days to submit their nomination papers. The last date for submitting nomination papers for candidates participating in the national parliament election is December 29.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin announced the schedule for the 13th National Parliament election through an address to the nation on December 11.