On November 9, the Election Commission gave a directive saying all campaign posters and banners should be removed by November 18 by candidates.
However, it is clear that this has not been done.
There is no excuse for why candidates are leaving their banners, posters, and graffiti up at various areas of the city, in both Dhaka North and Dhaka South, and there is little sign that anyone seems interested in taking them down.
If morning shows the day, then it is concerning that already the Election Commission’s efforts are being disregarded -- this cannot be allowed to continue.
The EC has asked assistant returning officers (AROs) to start taking necessary steps to remove all kinds of campaign material if nomination seekers do not do so themselves.
While the issue of election posters may seem, to some, to be a relatively small matter, it speaks to the larger issue of the EC’s mandate to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
Indeed, there is no way to overstate the solemn responsibility in the hands of the EC right now, which includes safeguarding democratic values, and working with law enforcement to keep the peace in this time.
Already, a lot of good work has been done by recovering illegal firearms to stop violence before and during the national elections.
But if candidates think EC directives can simply be ignored without penalty, then the EC must send a strong message -- a message that says, if you want to be a part of this election, you have to play by the rules.