Extract from the Constitution
About Election Commission, Secretariat, Bangladesh | About Bangladesh
PART VII
ELECTIONS
118.(1) There shall
be an Election Commission
for Bangladesh consisting
of a Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election
Commissioners, if any the President may from time time direct,
and appointment of the Chief Election
Commissioner and other Election Commissioners ( if any)
shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf,
be made by the President.
(2) When the Election Commission consists of more
than one person, the Chief Election Commissioner shall act
as the chairman thereof.
(3)
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the
term of office of an Election Commissioner shall be five years
from the date on which he enters upon his office, and-
(a)
a person who has held office as Chief Election
Commissioner shall not be eligible for appointment
in the service of the Republic;
(b)
any other election Commissioner shall on ceasing to
hold office as as such, be eligible for appointment as chief
Election Commissioner but shall not be otherwise eligible
for appointment in the service of the Republic.
(4)
The Election Commission shall be independent in the
exercise of its functions and subject only to this Constitution
and any other law.
(5)
Subject to the provisions of law made by Parliament,
the conditions of service of Election Commissioners shall
be such as the President may, by order, determine:
Provideed
that an Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his
office except in like manner and on the like manner and on
the like grounds as a judge of the [Supreme Court]
(6)
An Election Commissioner may resign his office by
writing under his hand address to the President.
119.
[(1)
The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation
of the electoral rolls for elections to the office of President
and to Parliament and the conduct of such elections shall
vest in the Election Commission which shall, in accordance
with this Constitution and any other law-
(a)
hold elections to the office of President;
(b)
hold elections of members of Parliament;
(c)
delimit the constituencies for the purpose of elections
to Parliaments; and
(d)
prepare electoral rolls for the purpose of elections
to the office of President and to Parliament.]
(2)
The Election Commission shall perform such functions,
in addition to those specified in the foregoing clause, as
may be prescribed by this Constitution or by any other law.
120.
The President shall, when so requested by the Election
Commission, make available to it such staff as may be necessary
for the discharge of its functions under this Part.
121.
There shall be one electoral roll for each constituency
for the purpose of elections to Parliament, and no special
electoral roll shall be prepared so as to classify electors
according to religion, race caste or sex.
122.
(1) The elections ****
to Parliament shall be on the basis of adult franchise.
(2)
A person shall be entitled to be enrolled on the electoral
roll for a constituency delimited the purpose of election
to Parliament, if he-
(a)
is a citizen of Bangladesh;
(b)
is not less than eighteen years of age;
(c)
does not stand declared by a competent court to be
of unsound mind; [and]
(d)
is or is deemed by law to be a resident of that constituency
[.]
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122.
[(1)
In the case of a vacancy in the office of President occurring
by reason of the expiration of his term of office and election
to fill the vacancy shall be held within the period of ninety
to sixty days to the date of expiration of the term:
Provided
that if the term expires before the dissolution of the Parliament
by members of which he was elected the election to fill the
vacancy shall not be held until after the next general election
of members of Parliament, but shall be held within thirty
days after the first sitting of Parliament following such
general election.
(2)
In the case of a vacancy in the office of President occurring
by reason of the death, resignation or removal of the President,
and election to fill the vacancy shall be held within the
period of ninety days after the occurrence of the vacancy.]
(3)
A general election of members of Parliament shall
be held-
(a)
in the case of a dissolution by reason of the expiration
of its term, within the period of ninety days proceeding such
dissolution; and
(b)
in the case of a dissolution otherwise than by reason
of such expiration, within ninety days after such dissolution:
Provided
that the persons elected at a general election under sub-clause
(a) shall not assume office as members of parliament except
after the expiration of the term referred to therein.
(4)
An election to fill the seat of a member of Parliament
which falls vacant otherwise than by reason of the dissolution
of Parliament shall be held within ninety days of the occurrence
of the vacancy [:]
[Provided
that in case where, in the opinion of the Chief Election Commissioner,
it is not possible, for reasons of an act of such election
shall be held within ninety days following next after the
last day of such period.]
[124. Subject to the provisions of this constitution,
Parliament may by law make proven with respect o6 all matters
relating to or in connection with elections to Parliament,
including the delimitation of constituencies, the preparation
of electoral rolls, the holding of elections, and all other
matters necessary for securing the due Constitution of Parliament.]
125.
Notwithstanding anything in this constitution-
(a)
the validity of any law relating to the delimitation
of constituencies, or the allotment of seats to such constituencies,
made or purporting to be made under article 124, shall not
be called in question in any court;
(b)
no election to the [ offices of President ] or to
Parliament shall be called in question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as
may be provided for by or under any law made by Parliament.
126.
It shall be the duty of all executive authorities
to assist the election Commission in the discharge of its
foundation.
The
colon was substituted for the full-stop at the end
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