<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said the Election Commission is determined to hold the next general election in the stipulated time and procedures as its constitutional obligation.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We told (President Mohammed Shahabuddin) that we, the Election Commission, are determined to hold the election in the stipulated time and fixed method as per the constitutional responsibility and obligation bestowed upon us,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said this while talking to reporters after an EC delegation headed by him met President Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban here in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they informed the president about their (EC’s) overall preparation taken for holding the upcoming national election.</div><div><br></div><div>The President expressed satisfaction about their preparations and assured them of extending his cooperation if necessary.</div><div><br></div><div>“He (the President) assured that he would always be ready to extend any sort of assistance and cooperation for the sake of a free election,” said Habibul Awal.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, the EC said if needed, they would seek his (President’s) cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>“He (The President) said the democratic and constitutional continuation will have to be upheld at any cost,” said the CEC.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they told the president that they continue seeking cooperation tirelessly from all political parties, the government and the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“We assured him that we are optimistic that we will be able to complete the upcoming parliamentary elections in time as per the constitutional obligation amid cooperation from all (stakeholders),” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>About the tentative election schedule, the CEC said they informed the president that the election is very imminent. The election will have to be held before January 29 next. “But we still have not made a complete decision (over the schedule),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will take the final decision over the schedule through discussion among us (election commissioners). We’ll announce the election schedule soon,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a question if any talks were held to hold dialogues to dispose of the political dispute, the CEC replied in negative saying that no such discussion was held.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>