The Election Commission in a circular Thursday asked would-be presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers to work neutrally in upcoming Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporation polls slated for June 15.
The EC told the returning officers and regional election officers of the four city corporations to appoint the presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers by June 4.
It put forwarded directives for the polling agents too.
Recently the EC has issued special directives to the retuning officers and regional election officials signed by Mihir Sarwar Morshed, deputy secretary of the EC.
Presiding and assistant presiding officers should scrutinise voter list, use transparent ballot boxes and return every election material to returning officer after polls, the directive says.
The presiding officers are empowered to stop election, if required.
In the circular, the EC asked the polling officers to ensure that the voter list has photographs, identify real voters, prepare the list of election materials, count ballot papers, prepare result sheet and submit all election materials to the returning officer after the polls.
The circular stated that every mayor, councillor and reserved women councillor should appoint an eligible person as their polling agent as per section 24 of the local government (city corporation) election procedure, 2010.
If any candidate does not appoint polling agent the candidate himself could be considered as polling agent.
A candidate can cancel his polling agent by issuing a written statement.
Polling agents in the circular are asked to submit their credentials with two photos to returning officers 24 hours before the elections day.
They will have to wear armbands for easy identification on the poll day. Polling agents will be present during the ballot count.
If any poling agent faces any obstruction to come to the polling centre they should immediately submit a written statement to the presiding officer or law enforcing agencies or magistrate or the returning officer of the respective city corporations.
According to the schedule, the Rajshahi city corporation has 2, 86,927 voters in its 30 wards, the Khulna city corporation has 4, 40,647 voters in its 31 wards, Barisal city corporation 2, 10530 voters in 30 wards while Sylhet city corporation 2, 91,057 voters in 27 wards.
Elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporations were held on August 4, 2008.