BANGLADESH

An election commissioner has urged political parties not to associate themselves with the forthcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections.

"According to local government law, city corporation elections are non-political. A political party cannot nominate a candidate in this election," M Shakhawat Hossain told the press on Tuesday.

"That is illegal," he said.

He, however, added that they were not banned from supporting any candidate.

The Election Commission on Tuesday approved all the eight nomination papers submitted for the polls scheduled for Oct 30.

Former Awami League MP Shamim Osman and former Narayanganj municipality mayor Selina Hayat Ivy are among the candidates.

A late-night meeting at the prime minister's residence went on for hours attempting to decide which of the two gets the party back-up.

After the meeting, prime minister's adviser H T Imam told reporters, "The party president will decide on the matter."

Senior Awami League leaders and cabinet members were present at the meeting.

"We hope political parties will refrain from associating themselves with the nomination of candidates," Shakhawat said apparently pointing at this meeting.

In reply to a question, he said the EC would take all necessary measures to ensure a free environment during the election.

"Law enforcement agencies will be deployed ahead of the polls. But there is no situation as of now to deploy the army," he added.

The deadline for withdrawing nomination papers in the election is Oct 12.