Doubt cast over CCC elections, by-polls
The Election Commission will decide within a day or two if five by-elections and Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls are to be postponed over the coronavirus outbreak, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said yesterday.
The by-polls to Dhaka-10, Gaibandha-3, and Bagerhat-4 are scheduled for March 21, while the CCC elections and Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 by-polls are slated for March 29.
"We will consider postponement of elections if the [coronavirus] situation goes out of control. But for now, we want the polls to be held on time," the CEC told reporters coming out of the Election Commission office in the capital's Agargaon after cutting a cake to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"We didn't make any decision yet … as preparations are in the final stage."
The CEC added that the candidates told the commission that they would campaign carefully.
On Monday, the government announced that all educational institutions would remain closed from yesterday to March 31 as a preventive measure against possible spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.
Besides, the authorities of Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors Association said all cinemas across the country would be shut down from March 18 to April 2.
The Ministry for Youth and Sports suspended all domestic and international games and sports events until April 30 and March 31 respectively.
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