DHAKA, Dec 14, 2018 (BSS) – Army will be deployed from December 24 for 10
days as a striking force ahead of the parliamentary elections.
“Three categories of officials will perform their duties with magistracy
power in the ensuing election. Of them, executive magistrates are 652, joint
district judges are 244 and judicial magistrates are 640. They will be
deployed two days ahead of the polls and continue their duties after one day
of the polls,” Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told
reporters this evening at Nirbachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon.
He said members of Police, RAB and BGB will also be deployed under the
magistrates in and around the polling centres. “The magistrates will perform
their duties with magistracy power. Hence, there is no scope to bestow
magistracy power upon any other force,” he added.
Ahmed said preparations for the upcoming election are at the final stage.
The EC has completed all types of trainings and other related activities and
the commission will train only the presiding officers at the field level, he
added.
Besides, he said, “We have started printing the ballot papers. We hope that
we will be able to reach the ballot papers seven days before the polls slated
for December 30. The EC is still receiving High Court orders about the
candidates. So we are trying to print ballot papers in congruity with the
orders.”
Ahmed said the election commissioners will go to eight divisions ahead of
the polls and exchange views with the field-level officials. “A coordination
meeting will be held with the officials of three hill districts on December
18. Such meeting will also be held at Chattogram on the same day,” he added.
Regarding the allegations of some candidates, the EC secretary said, “The
commission is looking into the matters on priority basis and sending those to
the concerned returning officers and the electoral inquiry committee for next
steps. They are also investigating those allegations. We have also received
some investigation reports. But most of the allegations have no authenticity.
The EC is taking steps against genuine allegations.”
He said the EC asked the high officials of police and other law enforcement
agencies not to harass anyone without any reason and not to arrest without
warrants.
On another query of the reporters, Ahmed said the EC has decided that the
law enforcers can arrest those people with warrants and the court directives.
He said there are separate rules and regulations for the local and
international observers. But the EC has no separate rules for journalists,
Ahmed said adding a meeting between the EC and law enforcers has been
proposed to form a policy for the journalists.
Ahmed said the election commissioners expressed views that the journalists
can enter into polling centers, can take photographs and can take opinions of
voters. “But the EC is considering to impose some bars on airing live on the
polls incidents. We will inform about the issue later,” he added.
About the attack on Dr Kamal Hossain, the EC secretary said no one lodged
any complaint to the commission in this regard. The EC will investigate this
issue if anyone lodges complaint, he added.
About using mobile phones in the polls areas, Ahmed said earlier the EC
gave direction that presiding officers and police in-charge can use mobile
phones. “Others cannot be allowed to use mobile phones in voting centers.
Journalists can carry mobile phones. But they cannot use mobile phones in
voting centers. They can use it outside,” he added.