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Moratorium on election

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: The Bangladesh High Court has ordered the Election Commission (E.C.) to suspend all elections, including the parliamentary polls, for the next three months. The order came as the military-backed interim government nears three weeks in power performing a somewhat difficult job in curbing crime and corruption. The order directed the E.C. to explain within three weeks the legality of holding any election before the introduction of ballot box and voter identity card systems. The order followed a writ petition filed by a voter in Dhaka, who submitted that the E.C. had failed to prepare an electoral list in accordance with the guidelines of the Representation of People Order 1972. The moratorium was enforced at a time when debates were raging whether the elections could be held. The 14-party alliance led by Sheikh Hasina and the four-party alliance led by Khaleda Zia want the polls to be held as soon as possible. The interim government has effected major changes in the police and the armed forces, two vital sectors, including the chief of the Special Security Forces and the National Security Intelligence. It appointed an IGP and a commissioner for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

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