Online Desk: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Tuesday that there is no option to hold polls on time as per the constitution.

“I want to make it clear that the election must be held within the mentioned time. The countrymen should not be in such confusion that the polls will not be held, if the environment is unfavorable.”

The CEC made the statement after meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas in Agargaon Election Bhaban today.

“Peter Haas wants to know how the polls situation is. We then have made it clear that we have no other option. The Election Commission has to hold elections on time as per the constitution. Political parties may have different options. They may participate in the elections or not,” CEC Habibul Awal said to reporters, adding that, “We don’t have any option.”

He said, “We firmly move forward, whether the situation is favorable or not.”

The CEC said that the US ambassador hoped for dialogue among the political parties.