Dhaka: Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed on Saturday said the Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the forthcoming general election this week.

‘Hopefully, the schedule for the general election will be announced this week,’ he told reporters after the Commission’s election preparatory meeting held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

The meeting was adjourned till Sunday, reports the UNB.

‘Still, we’ve the preparation to arrange the election by December. We also have preparation to announce schedule this week,’ he said

Helaluddin said they are yet to receive the letter of Jatiya Oikyafront that requested the EC not to announce the election schedule until the ongoing political dialogue is over.

‘I don’t know whether it reached the [EC] office. As the secretary, I’m not informed and the Commission is also not informed. So, it was not discussed (at the meeting),’ he said.

‘If the letter reaches, it’ll be placed at the Commission’s tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) meeting,’ he added.

Earlier in the day (Saturday afternoon), Dr Kamal Hossain, on behalf of Jatiya Oikyafront, sent the letter to the Chief Election Commissioner.

About a recent court order over the BNP charter, the EC Secretary said the issue will be placed at the Commission’s meeting to implement the court order.

He said the Commission will dispose of the matter within one month as set by the High Court.

On Oct 31 last, the High Court asked the EC not to accept the amended Article 7 of BNP’s charter and dispose of the petition in this regard within a month.

The BNP’s amended charter has deleted the provision against bankrupt, insane, corrupt or notorious individuals from being BNP candidate for contesting the national election.