The Election Commission suspended the upcoming elections to Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and the by-polls to Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 Jatiya Sangsad seats in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
The by-polls were scheduled to be held on March 29 in Bogura-1 and Jashore-3 JS seats along with CCC.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the EC held Saturday at the Nirbachon Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
Later, EC Secretary Md Alamgir announced his decision to suspend all three elections at a news briefing.
“The EC will convey its next decision about the elections when the coronavirus situation improves,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government on Saturday scrapped the Independence Day ceremonies after a meeting of President Abdul Hamid with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Bangabhaban, a presidential palace spokesman said.
“The meeting decided to cancel all the major Independence Day ceremonies in view of the COVID 19 outbreak across the world,” President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.
He said offering of wreaths at the National Memorial on March 26 as part of the state and social ritual, civic reception at Bangabhaban and distribution of Independence Day medals were the ceremonies which would not be held this year.
He said the COVID-19 situation and the country’s preparedness in combating the pandemic dominated the head of the state’s hour-long meeting with the premier in the afternoon. “Both of them urged the countrymen to be cautious instead of being panicked,” Abedin said.
