With the formal start of campaigning for the city corporation polls now underway, it is welcome to see more pro-active steps being taken to uphold election rules.
The Chittagong Election Returning Office has identified areas where violations have occurred in the past and formed special teams to keep watch for abuses, among not just candidates and voters but also law enforcement.
In Dhaka, we have seen an executive magistrate fine several candidates for posting leaflets and conducting campaigns in advance of the official election period.
Special efforts have been made to ensure all those running for mayoral or councilor posts are fully aware of the electoral code of conduct, and to warn parties that anyone found violating the rules will risk arrest and enforcement under the code.
The decision by the AL-backed mayoral candidate in Chittagong to not address two meetings on Monday to avoid the risk of violating the electoral code of conduct, suggest these efforts are having some effect.
We hope the improved enforcement drive will not only help guarantee a level playing field for all candidates in the elections later this month, but that lessons will be learned to ensure better enforcement in the future.
This applies in particular to long running concerns about the impunity with which politically-connected individuals have been able to commandeer private billboards and public spaces for political advertising.
The Election Commission needs to become more effective in between election periods at setting, monitoring and enforcing fair regulations on all forms of party political campaigning.