Those whose candidacies were rejected by the returning officer and who had appealed, is going to be disposed by today. According to the schedule, symbols will be distributed among the candidates on December 18. Earlier, on December 16 and 17, any of the valid candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their candidature voluntarily. The campaign will run from December 18 to January 5 and the voting is January 7. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) said that no meeting, rally or any other kind of political program will be allowed from the day of allocation of this symbol until the end of the election.
Expressing concern and condemning the incident, BNP said that this evil initiative to suppress the right to democratic expression will intensify the ongoing political, economic and diplomatic crisis in Bangladesh. And election analysts said there was no such precedent in the past. The legal side of such a decision needs to be looked into. On the other hand, some said that the Election Commission (EC) had to go to the hardline to ensure that there is no obstacle in holding the election. So that no program creates obstacles in the election process.
No political programme from Dec 18 to polls
On December 12, the Election Commission (EC) sent a directive to the Home Ministry. The directive, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Atiar Rahman, said the 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7. The campaigning of the contesting candidates will start from December 18. It is recommended that all be prevented from taking and implementing any kind of meeting, rally or any other political program that may obstruct the election work or discourage voters from voting except for the election campaign from December 18 until the end of the election. In light of the EC's directive, the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification in this regard yesterday.
"No meeting, rally or any other kind of political program will be allowed on the occasion of the 11th parliamentary election from December 18 until the end of the election," said a notification signed by Habibul Hasan, senior assistant secretary of the ministry.
It also urged all to take necessary measures from taking and implementing any kind of meeting, rally or any other kind of political program that may hinder the election work or discourage voters from casting their votes from December 18 until the end of the election.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office yesterday. The Election Commission, which has become a subservient and controversial state institution of Awami League (AL), has recently taken an unprecedented and anti-people decision. The EC has written to the Home Ministry not to allow any political program or meeting or rally from December 18 until the voting of the national election. The incompetent and incompetent EC has taken the anti-people decision to patronize the attempt to hold a dummy election through partition in the name of a so-called election on January 7, 2024. In fact, it has been proved once again why there is universal distrust and distrust in the present EC and why no level playing field or fair election is possible under this fully biased commission.
Election expert and chairman of the National Election Observation Council Prof Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalim Ullah told The Daily Post, "To his knowledge, such a decision was never taken before any national election in the past. Those who are not in the election cannot lose the right to carry out the program during the election. The government or EC should allow them to carry out the program as long as they are non-violent. And those who are aggrieved with the EC's decision can go to the High Court and file a writ. They can challenge why such a decision should not be illegal."
However, some said that such a decision has not been taken to prevent any particular party. The EC basically wants to complete the election process smoothly. In this case, the EC does not want any obstacle. And that is why the EC had to go to the hardline fearing that the program may be obstructed. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir claimed that the EC did not send a letter to the Home Ministry to curtail the right to hold rallies and meetings. "A letter has been sent to the Home Ministry not to allow meetings, rallies and movement programmes that obstruct the election," he told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon on Wednesday evening.
More than 600 police officers to be transferred
The EC has approved the transfer and posting of 650 policemen including sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, sergeants and constables to ensure a fair 12th parliamentary election. The consent was conveyed to the senior secretary of the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry in a letter signed by Deputy Secretary of the Election Commission Mizanur Rahman yesterday. Among them, 23 are unarmed police inspectors, one TSI, 10 unarmed, 44 SI armed, 20 SI, one sergeant, seven naiks, 13 unarmed ASIs, 524 police constables and seven unarmed SIs of Rajshahi range. Earlier on Monday, a letter was sent to the senior secretary of the Public Security Department saying that the EC has no objection to the transfer of two police commissioners, two deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and 10 superintendents of police (SPs).
257 Candidates Return to Polling Field in 5 Days
A total of 44 candidates have withdrawn their candidacy on the fifth day of the hearing of appeals filed against the decision of the returning officers in the 12th parliamentary elections. Fifty-two candidates were rejected, four candidates were not decided. With this, a total of 257 candidates have returned their candidature in the last five days. This information was found in the Agargaon Election Commission's legal branch sources on Monday. The EC said 56 candidates withdrew their candidacy on the first day, 32 were rejected and six were undecided. On the second day, 51 people returned their candidacy. Forty-one were rejected. On the third day, 61 candidates returned their candidacy. Thirty-five were canceled. It wasn't decided by 4. On the fourth day, 48 candidates withdrew their candidature. A total of 561 appeals have been filed against the returning officer's decision. The EC will dispose of the appeals from December 10 to 15.
The EC announced the schedule for the 12th parliamentary election in mid-November. According to the schedule, the election will be held on January 7. After other processes, the appeal settlement ends today. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17. After the withdrawal of candidacy, the symbols will be allocated on December 18. In that case, 14 days have been given for submission of nomination papers and 19 days for campaigning. The campaign has to end 48 hours before the election. That is, there will be an opportunity to campaign from December 18 to January 5.
ARS
