CEC says army to be deployed, no showdown during nomination filing
The Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced the schedule for the next general election, setting the voting date on January 5, 2014. In a televised address to the nation, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said the last date for the filing of nomination papers to returning officers or assistant returning officers is December 2. According to the schedule, the nomination forms will be scrutinised by the returning officers on December 5-6 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is December 13.
In his address, the CEC said although the EC is waiting for a compromise between the major political parties on the issue of a poll-time government, the EC has to announce the schedule as it cannot not wait more because of time constraint.
He, however, urged all the political parties to take part in the election, and hoped that the ongoing political stalemate over the poll-time government would be resolved through a consensus.
Listing the measures taken by the EC to ensure a level-playing field for all the candidates, Rakibuddin said the election code of conduct was amended recently and it will be enforced strictly.
According to the code of conduct, very important persons such as the prime minister, ministers and the opposition leader cannot conduct election campaign with government facilities except the security they are entitled to.
Lawmakers or their representatives cannot take part in a meeting of the managing committee of any educational institution or in the decision-making process for the institution until the publication of the polling results.
The electoral code also says that candidates cannot use government officials and teachers during the election campaign.
Government vehicles also cannot be used by the candidates in any election purpose.
The CEC warned that the EC will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of voters who intend to cast their votes.
He mentioned that the EC has decided to deploy army alongside regular law enforcing agencies to maintain law and order across the country for ensure free and fair polling.
“I want to declare without hesitation that no concession will be given when it comes to enforcing the code of conduct. The position of any candidate will not be taken into account while enforcing the code of conduct,” the CEC said.
“Filing nomination papers through processions or showdown will not be allowed and such an act by any candidate may make his or her candidacy uncertain,” he pointed out.
“In no way, general voters would be allowed to become hostage in the hands of terror, goons and muscle power. Inshallah, the election will be held in a peaceful manner,” the CEC affirmed.
“On January 5, 2014, the 10th Jatiya Sangsad election will take place in a festive mood with the help of all political parties, intellectuals, media persons, students and people from all strata,” he added.
As per the election schedule, election symbols will be allocated among the candidates on December 14.
Later, the contenders will get 21 days for electioneering and there will be a public holyday on the voting day.
It may be mentioned that previously all the ECs had to revise their schedules for the parliament election except in 2001. In 2008, the EC had to revise its schedule thrice.
Earlier in the day, the CEC, before finalising the election schedule, had meetings with four other commissioners and the commission secretary.
The opposition alliance has long been insisting that it will not join the general election if it is not overseen by a non-partisan poll-time administration and threatening to resist the unilateral polls.
Forty registered political parties, except Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, can participate in the 10th general election as the High Court declared illegal the registration of the party.
As the BNP-led 18-party alliance is likely to skip the polls, the ruling Awami League-led 14-patry alliance and some other small political parties can take part in the election.
According to the EC Secretariat, 91,966,290 voters, including 46,123,318 men and 45,842,972 women, can exercise their franchise at 37, 711 polling stations in 300 constituencies across the country.
The EC has appointed 64 deputy commissioners and two divisional commissioners as returning officers.
Unlike other districts, two returning officers will oversee polls in Dhaka and Chittagong districts.
The commission also appointed 577 assistant returning officers.
Of them, 561 are upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), assistant commissioners (Land), and 16 upazila election officials.
The last parliamentary election was held on December 29, 2008 under the army-backed caretaker government.
-With The Independent input
