Dhaka: Rejecting the demand of pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party professionals for time extension to submit nomination papers for the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Wednesday said the time given by the commission is enough.

‘Our office will remain open on Friday and Saturday. We’ve also instructed to keep open all the scheduled banks during the period. So, there’ll be no problem in collecting and submitting nomination papers,’ he said.

Talking to reporters before leaving his office in the evening, the CEC also said, ‘We’ve given enough time at every step of the election schedule, including for the submission of nomination papers.’

Earlier in the day, a six-member delegation under the banner of ‘Shoto Nagorik Committee’, led by Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, placed a six-point demand to the Election Commission, including time extension to submit nomination papers for the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections by two to three days.

Rakibuddin said the time for the submission of nomination papers is not insufficient as they have given 10-12 days for it.  

The CEC said a good number of aspirants are collecting nomination papers to contest the city polls. ‘We hope we’ll get overwhelming response from the candidates for joining the elections.’  

Asked why they are suddenly arranging the city polls, Rakibuddin said, ‘We had asked the government to resolve the delimitation complexities. As the problem has been resolved, we’ve taken necessary preparations for holding the polls by 10 March and subsequently announced the election schedule on 18 March. So, this is not an abrupt decision.’

As his attention was drawn to the pro-BNP delegation’s demand for ensuring an environment so that all those are now on the run can freely join the polls, the CEC said, ‘I’ve nothing to do to bring those went into hiding to public.’  

He, however, said they will hold the election in a free and fair manner as they did six other city polls.