EC tells MPs to leave Zila Parishad polling areas, warns of legal action

Election Commissioner M Shah Newaz made the announcement while talking to reporters at EC headquarter in Dhaka on Monday after it found allegations of violation of the electoral code and coercion of voters for the upcoming Zila Parishad election by some lawmakers. “We have received written and verbal allegations against some candidates and ruling party lawmakers influencing voters. No such irregularities will be tolerated,” Shah Newaz told reporters. In total 61 zila parishads are going to the polls for the first time on December 28 while three hill districts –Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari – will see no elections. In addition, several media reports have laid allegations against many lawmakers and candidates for attempting to influence the polls. Some candidates are asking the voters to take pictures of their votes while many are asking to put “special signs” on the back of the ballot papers, said the election commissioner. “There are only two days left before the voting begins. We urge the lawmakers to leave their areas. If anyone wants to influence the election while bypassing our instructions, we will take legal actions against them,” Shah Newaz said. “No voters will be allowed to enter the polling centres with mobile phones. The presiding officers will search the voters to make sure they do not enter with mobile phones,” he said. If any special signs are found on ballot papers, they will be cancelled, he warned. The commissioner also said police, RAB and BGB will be deployed, near the polling centres, so that voters can cast their votes peacefully. Only elected representatives of city corporations, municipalities, upazila and union parishads of the respective districts can cast their votes. The commission has already appointed deputy commissioners as returning officers and senior district election officers and district election officers as assistant returning officers. The Dec 28 election is being contested for one chairman, 15 general members and five members in reserved seats for women in each district.