The Election Commission (EC) is facing a dearth of manpower prior to the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Many of its important posts lie vacant while many others are filled in with temporary officers.
As a result, the officials, who have to discharge their regular as well as additional duties are facing huge difficulties in undertaking preparations for conducting the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls, said the EC officials.
The commission had already issued three letters to the Public Service Commission (PSC), requesting it to appoint adequate number of executives, but the commission has not responded. The last letter was issued on September 9, confirmed EC officials.
At present, two posts of joint secretaries in the EC secretariat and 143 posts of upazila election officers are vacant.
EC officials fear that the commission might face difficulties before, during and after the polls, due to scarcity of sufficient workforce.
The human resource officials of EC said there were no regular deputy secretaries in four sections of the commission secretariat including Election Preparation and Management section. Current field level officers are managing the duties in those posts.
The post of joint secretary of the law section has also been lying vacant for over a month now, they added.
The commission has given the additional charge of the post of deputy secretary of National Election Management section to the Dhaka Division Election Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed.
However, there are complaints that Sarwar did not perform his additional duties in appropriate manner.
According to the EC secretariat and National Identity Card Registration Wing, about 21 out 85 first grade posts including one post of deputy secretary and two posts of joint secretaries are currently vacant.
Moreover, out of the 13 posts, two posts are vacant in the Election Training Institute that provides training to all the officials across the country on conducting the polls.
The commission had urged PSC to appoint four new officials in the Information Technology section on an emergency basis, however, no moves were taken by PSC in this regard, alleged the EC officials.
The concerned officials said the commission had to temporarily appoint low rank officials to 396 upazila election officer posts, across the country. There are 513 posts of upazila election officers throughout the country.
The EC has also given additional charges of 143 posts of upazila officers to the nearest upazila election officers.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said it was the secretary’s responsibility to monitor the posts.
In this regard, EC Secretary Mohammad Sadik said the commission informs the PSC immediately after a post turns vacant.
PSC would appoint new officials to the vacant posts soon, said the secretary.
