EC may go for change shortly before polls

In the face of widespread criticism, the Election Commission (EC) has stepped back from its recent move to amend the code of conduct for political parties and candidates to contest the coming parliamentary election.
"Just now we are not working on electoral code of conduct. If necessary, we will amend it a few days before announcing the schedule for the national election," said Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz.
The EC may hold dialogue with political parties over amendment to the code of conduct, if needed, he said yesterday while talking to journalists at his office in the capital.
In a surprising move last month, the EC made a draft amendment to the electoral code of conduct where it said if the general election is held under a partisan government, the ruling party chief and its 20 leaders [picked by the party chief] would enjoy the privilege of electioneering across the country.
This provision would allow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 20 other ministers or state ministers or Awami League leaders to join the party's polls campaign without resigning from their posts, if the premier continues as the AL chief.
It drew huge criticisms from different sections, especially from the opposition.
Talking about the election preparation, Shah Nawaz said, "We have prepared ourselves both mentally and officially for holding the next national election on time under any type of government."
About the cancellation of registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, he once again said the EC would take steps after getting the copy of High Court verdict to this effect.
"We hope to receive the copy by next one or two weeks as one of our officials has been designated to collect the copy," the election commissioner added.
On August 1, following a writ petition, the High Court declared Jamaat's registration with the EC as a political party illegal.
On elections to the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporations (DCC), Shah Nawaz reiterated that the EC would be able to conduct the elections after the Local Government Division completes the delimitation of boundaries.