DHAKA: The High Court stayed the polls and by-polls to the mayor and councilor posts of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) for six months, not three months.

DNCC Election Returning Officer Abul Kashem told Banglanews: “We didn’t get the copy of the verdict earlier. We got the certified copy of the plaintiff's lawyer then. It wasn’t mentioned of how long the elections were postponed. After receiving the photocopy of the verdict, we came to know that there was a six-month suspension.”

“After getting the certified copy of the verdict from the court, the commission will be called for discussion. Then, next decision will be taken”, he added.

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) acting secretary told media that the court halted the DNCCC election for three months.

On January 9, the EC announced the polls schedule for the vacant posts of DNCC mayor and councilors to the newly introduced 18 wards.

The HC on January 17 stayed the election and by-election which were scheduled to be held on February 26.

The court suspended the polls responding two separate writs from Bhatara union parishad chairman Ataur Rahman and Beraid union parishad chairman Jahangir Alam challenging legality of the polls schedule.

BDST: 1142 HRS, JAN 24, 2018
AH