Decision on DNCC by-polls soon: EC acting secy

Election Commission Acting Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed today said that the commission will take a decision on the by-polls to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) immediately.

“The Commission will sit in a meeting within one or two days and take a decision in this regard,” Ahmed told reporters at Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon area of Dhaka this noon.

About election in the newly added 18 wards under the DNCC, the EC secretary said there is no legal complexity in holding the by-polls with the inclusion of the new 18 wards as the local government ministry has given an approval for polls.

In the meeting, Helaluddin said the Election Commission will examine legal aspect whether the by-polls of DNCC will be held with the new 18 wards.

In December, the local government ministry published a gazette declaring the mayoral post of DNCC vacant after the death of its mayor Annisul Huq.

According to the electoral law, the Election Commission can hold a by-poll to elect the city’s mayor for the vacant post within 90 days for the rest tenure of the DNCC.

According to the article 16 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, if any post of mayor or councillor of a city corporation falls vacant 180 days before the expiry of their tenures, a by-election to the post shall be held within 90 days since the day it falls vacant to fulfil the post for the rest of the tenure.