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The Election Commission (EC) has finalised a total of 42,761 polling centres across Bangladesh for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, reports bdnews24.com.
Speaking at the EC headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon on Monday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said: “We have finalised the list of polling centres.
Across 300 parliamentary constituencies in 64 districts, there will be 42,761 centres.
"In terms of rooms, 115,137 have been allocated for male voters and 129,602 for female voters, making a total of 244,649 rooms.”
He added that 14 temporary polling centres have been designated initially.
“On average, each polling centre will have around 3,000 voters. This has been treated as the catchment area. The number may be adjusted later if needed for election management,” the secretary said.
The draft list of polling centres was published on Sept 10. Claims and objections were received until Sept 25 and resolved on Oct 12. The final list of probable centres was approved on Oct 20.
Under Articles 8(1) and 8(2) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, the EC is required to preserve and finalise the list of polling centres and publish it in the official gazette at least 25 days before the national election.
STANCE ON NCP ELECTION SYMBOL UNCHANGED
As preparations for the general election continue apace, the standoff between the EC and the National Citizen Party (NCP) over the youth-led group's preferred electoral symbol, the Shapla (water lily), showed no sign of ending.
On Sunday, Sarjis Alam, the chief organiser of the NCP’s northern region, warned that the party would launch a movement against the commission if it was not allotted the symbol.
Asked about the issue, Akhtar said: “The commission has already stated its position. So far, no alternative proposal has been submitted to the commission. The commission still maintains its earlier position.”
He added that the EC would allocate a symbol to the party at its own discretion and issue an order within this week.
On the NCP’s demand for the reconstitution of the EC, Akhtar said: “I have no comment on that matter. Political issues fall outside the jurisdiction of the commission.”
“We are working in line with our constitutional responsibilities. If everyone cooperates, it will be possible to complete the election within the stipulated timeframe.”