In response to a High Court (HC) ruling suspending all polls for three months since Jan 29, the date of the ruling, the EC will inform a HC division bench today about its plans to introduce voter ID cards, sources said adding that the EC Secretariat yesterday sent to the attorney general's office a written statement to be placed before the court this morning.

CEC ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday afternoon told a BNP delegation that the EC plans to inform the nation about its roadmap for the next parliamentary election, BNP Vice-chairman MK Anwar, who led the four-member delegation, told reporters after their meeting with the CEC and other two election commissioners.

The BNP delegation asked the EC to initiate steps for holding the stalled ninth parliamentary election within six months since the formation of the caretaker government on January 12.

"Our expectation is that the next parliamentary election will be held by July 11. The chief election commissioner informed us that they will inform the nation in the next two or three weeks about a roadmap for holding the parliamentary election," MK Anwar said.

The BNP delegation met the CEC three days after a high-powered Awami League delegation had met him demanding holding of the stalled ninth parliamentary election by June.

Jatiya Party led by HM Ershad is scheduled to meet the CEC this afternoon and the Communist Party of Bangladesh will meet him tomorrow, sources said.

Emerging from the hour long meeting, the BNP delegation chief said holding the parliamentary election as early as possible is within the EC's jurisdiction.

"We hope the reconstituted Election Commission will be able to present a free and fair election. We will extend all cooperation for a free and fair election," MK Anwar, also a former minister, said.

He said the CEC informed them about the EC's initiatives for electoral reforms.

VOTER ID CARDS AND A WRIT PETITION
Following a writ petition, the HC on January 29 issued a ruling directing the EC to explain why the present voter roll shall not be declared inconsistent with the provisions of the electoral rolls ordinance and with the rules and directives passed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in 2006.

The HC also asked the EC to explain why it shall not be ordered to introduce voter identification (ID) cards and to arrange transparent ballot boxes for the national election.

The EC that decided to contest the writ petition yesterday afternoon sent a response to the attorney general's office explaining its position regarding the HC ruling, sources said.

About voter ID cards, the EC in its response said it has planned to introduce the ID cards and will soon take a decision regarding the matter.

The Bangladesh Army last week in a presentation at the EC Secretariat said it can prepare the voter ID cards within 10 to 12 months with a cost of Tk 300 crore.

About introduction of transparent ballot boxes, the EC in its statement said introduction of the new system in the election is within its jurisdiction.

The EC however defended the updated voter list prepared for the cancelled January 22 parliamentary election, sources said.

"The election commission updated the voter list of 2000 in accordance with the Supreme Court's judgement," a source said quoting the EC's statement sent to the attorney general's office.

A HC division bench is scheduled to hear the writ petition today.