Dhaka Mayoral poll date changed after protests

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh changed the date of the Dhaka city Mayoral Election from January 30 to February 1 after widespread protests as the earlier date fell on the Saraswati Puja day.

The decision was taken late last evening in an emergency meeting of the EC held in Dhaka.
Briefing the media after EC meeting on Saturday Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said the date was shifted so that no one’s religious sentiment is hurt.

In accordance with the new dates, the government deferred the SSC and its equivalent examinations from February 1 to February 3.

There were widespread protests in Dhaka against the earlier date coinciding with Saraswati Puja which is a major festival of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Students of Dhaka University had gone on fast into death demanding change of polling date. Political parties including Awami League and the BNP led Jatiya Oikyafront had also supported the demand for change in date.