The Election Commission (EC) has taken a stringent stance against any attempts to disrupt the upcoming national parliament election, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for electoral malpractices.
In a directive aimed at ensuring a free, fair, and impartial poll, the EC has instructed the authorities to compile a list of terrorists and expedite the recovery of illegal weapons. The commission has also cautioned that it will not hesitate to cancel the candidacies of those who violate the election code of conduct.
To maintain impartiality and transparency, the EC has tasked returning officers with forming teams and cells to closely monitor the activities of law enforcement and field administration officials.
In a separate move, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to implement measures to remove campaign materials put up ahead of the parliamentary elections.
With regards to the police administration, the EC has announced plans to swiftly transfer any police officer responsible for maintaining law and order if they are found to be negligent or partial towards any individual or party involved in the election.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Mymensingh has been withdrawn on the EC's order and the Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj has been transferred to the Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh by the Ministry of Public Administration.
In this regard, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Md Ahsan Habib Khan told Bangladesh Pratidin that the EC is adamant on the zero-tolerance policy for fair elections. Apart from this, strict action will be taken against the candidates if they also violate the election code of conduct.
“The concerned Returning Officers have been directed to take action as per law if any candidate violates the code of conduct. Candidates who have already violated the code of conduct have been chastised. In case of repeated violation of the election code of conduct by any candidate, the decision of cancellation of candidature will be taken after investigation and subject to evidence.”
“Only after allotment of election symbol candidates can conduct election campaign following the code of conduct. We will create equal opportunity for all candidates,” he said.
Order to arrest terrorists: The EC has instructed the Returning Officers to take measures to arrest the terrorists to conduct the parliamentary elections fairly and peacefully. At the same time, the organization has given instructions to recover illegal weapons.
According to EC sources, the EC election management branch's deputy secretary Md Atiyar Rahman has sent letters to returning officers of 300 constituencies. The directive is said to have asked for five specific points to be confirmed.
To ensure that all classes of voters can exercise their right to vote freely and fearlessly, several meetings should be arranged with local political party leaders, rival candidates, and local trusted workers.
Voters of all classes of constituencies and women voters in particular should be encouraged to cast their votes without fear and hindrance. For this purpose, all the concerned should be informed through appropriate publicity so that all categories of voters can be sure about the activities taken to ensure the security system.
Enforcement of all illegal arms recovery operations should be strengthened along with security arrangements in important areas outside the polling stations and polling booths. The arrest of extortionists identified terrorists should be made by preparing the list of identified terrorists.
Arrangements should be made to deploy a sufficient number of law enforcement officers in the polling stations and to deploy more law enforcement officers in the identified disturbed polling stations.
Participating political parties, contesting candidates, or their supporters shall abide by the electoral code of conduct and shall refrain from any activities or statements that are offensive, inflammatory, or hurtful to religious sentiments or influence the election by money, muscle power, or local power and shall maintain mutual cordiality and good relations. To ensure that it is maintained, the cooperation of all concerned parties should be sought and legal action should be taken if necessary.
Instructions to make visible the activities of law and order forces: The EC has instructed the returning officers to make visible the activities of law and order forces and field administration by forming various teams and cells to make the parliamentary elections fair and peaceful.
According to the directive, vigilance and observation teams comprising officers from various departments under the leadership of the Returning Officer should be formed at the district level and metropolitan areas to ensure that elections are free, fair, and impartial and that impartiality is visible to the people.
Formation of law and order protection cell: A law and order protection cell should be formed under the leadership of the Returning Officer to coordinate and consolidate the activities of the law enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful environment on the occasion of the parliamentary elections.
The other members in this cell will be a representative of the Superintendent of Police or Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Assistant Returning Officer, and designated officers of the Assistant Law Enforcement Forces.
The cell will take all necessary steps to maintain law and order in the constituency. This cell will inform the Election Commission Secretariat about the various measures taken regarding the overall situation including law and order.
Violation of the code of conduct will result in cancellation of candidature: EC has issued a warning to cancel the candidature if the code of conduct is not followed. The organization has instructed all the returning officers to spread this warning among the candidates.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 4 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
