Most among the major political parties have welcomed the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad election on January 7 in 2024.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal announced the polls schedule on Wednesday evening while addressing the nation through the state-run television and radio.
Welcoming the JS polls schedule announcement AL leaders and activists brought out joy processions and held rallies at different places across the country and thanked the Election Commission (EC).
In a reaction, AL presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah said, “We will now remain busy as our election journey will begin tomorrow (Thursday).”
“As per the rules, a period of 45 days [to hold an election following the announcement of schedule] is needed. Keeping that in mind we had estimated that the polls would be held between January 5 and 7,” he added.
Welcoming the election schedule, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) said the uncertainty over holding the election has been removed through the announcement.
JSD president Hasanul Hsq Inu said, “It's [announcement of the schedule] a strong step to keep the continuation of the constitution.”
Jatiya Party, the main opposition in the parliament, said the Election Commission is obliged to announce the polls schedule. They, however, hoped that a dialogue will be held among political parties to end the political impasse.
“It is a must that the Election Commission will announce the election schedule as it is an obligatory duty for them. They (EC) must announce the polls schedule and they don't have any alternative to that,” JP secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu in a reaction on Wednesday.
Chunnu, however, said even though the polls schedule has been announced, it can be changed following the government's initiative for holding a dialogue to create a congenial atmosphere.
However, BNP and some of its like-minded parties reject the polls schedule announcement.
Rejecting the election schedule, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said, “The unilateral announcement of the election schedule only reconfirms their Baksal nature.”
