The Election Commission has decided not to defer the municipality
polls slated for December 30 despite requests from several participating
parties.
In a meeting held at the commission today, the authorities have also
decided to keep lawmakers out of electioneering campaigns of the
aspirants.
A highly placed official at the Election Commission, on condition of
anonymity, confirmed The Daily Star on the decisions taken at the
meeting.
It was ruling Awami League and the parliamentary opposition Jatiya
Party who met chief election commissioner yesterday and advocated for
allowing the MPs to take part in campaigns.
Only BNP, who came to the decision of participating after considering
the sentiment of root-level activists, backed the restriction placed by
electoral code of conduct.
The restriction will not affect BNP as it boycotted the parliamentary
elections of January 5, 2014 and does not have any representation at
the parliament.
However, both BNP and Jatiya Party had batted for a deferral in the polls schedule.
