DCC polls likely in Oct-Nov

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) election is likely to be held in October-November as the city-corporation laws are expected to be passed by parliament in July.
Although the Election Commission (EC) is prepared to hold the overdue DCC polls, but it cannot go ahead for want of the necessary laws for holding the elections, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain told reporters at his office yesterday.
"If the assembly sits in June and then passes the city-corporation laws, the EC will have to hold the DCC polls in October-November as there will be rainwater during August and September in the country," Sakhawat added.
He said the commission has been waiting for getting the city-corporation laws to hold the DCC polls.
The commissioner also observed that the EC must be further strengthened by giving it constitutional powers as well as increasing the manpower and the infrastructure across upzila levels to ensure a matured democratic process in the country.