Comilla City Polls Likely In December

Election to the newly formed Comilla City Corporation is likely to be held in December this year, sources at the Election Commission (EC) said.



The Election Commission sent a letter to the LGRD and cooperatives ministry last week, asking to complete all necessary measures soon for holding polls in the city corporation.



The letter signed by EC deputy secretary Abdul Baten also asked Comilla district administration to take preparation for holding the polls likely to be held in December.



There is a legal obligation to complete the election to the new city corporation by January 11, 2012, the letter stated. Earlier, the EC sent similar letter to the ministry a month back.



The commission also asked the ministry to assign a number of wards of Comilla city and publish gazette demarcating the wards soon as at least three months is required for holding of the polls.



As per local government (City Corporation) Act 2009, the Election Commission is obliged to complete elections to any new city corporation within six months after its formation.



The EC in its 2nd letter said it had sent a similar letter to the local government ministry one month ago to complete necessary measures for holding Comilla city corporation polls, but it is yet to start doing the job.



Election commissioner Brig-Gen. M. Shakhawat Hussain told daily sun that election to Comilla City Corporation is facing uncertainty as there is a complaint to the ministry about the legality over its formation.



";Without settling the matter, election to the Comilla City Corporation can not be held,"; he added.



Seeking anonymity, an official of the EC secretariat said the ministry did not fix the number of wards of the new city and demarcate the wards even three months after the formation of the city corporation.



The new city corporation comprises two municipalities Comilla Sadar and Comilla Sadar Dakkhin (South).



";It will be tough for the EC to complete election by January 11, 2012, if the ministry fails to settle the issues in proper time. Election schedules will have to be announced at least 40/45 days before the voting day,"; he added.



As per the provision 34 (a) of the local government (City Corporation) Act 2009, the commission is obliged to complete polls of the new city corporation within 180 days after its formation.



On July 10, Comilla, one of the country';s oldest municipalities, was upgraded to city corporation comprising of 18 wards of Comilla municipality and nine wards of Comilla sadar municipality. Comilla was upgraded to municipality in 1864.