The Election Commission is seeking about 12,000 neutral officials to conduct the polls in the upcoming Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporations.
The EC has already sent letters with special direction to the returning officers of the city corporations in this regard.
Additionally, the returning officers are sending letters to the heads of government and non-government educational institutes, and other government and autonomous institutions requesting information about their officials and employees in these four city corporations.
The EC in its letters has asked the heads of the institutions to send names of skilled, honest and neutral teachers, officials and employees.
Those selected by the EC would have to give written assurances stating that they will carry out their responsibilities free from any influence. The EC will also organise day-long training sessions for the selected election officers.
After finalising candidacy, the EC will decide on the panel of election officials.
Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz said the EC gave direction to the returning officers of the four city corporations to appoint neutral election officials. The appointments will be made as per the direction of the EC, he mentioned.
The EC officials said the EC would require a presiding officer for each centre, an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers for each polling booth, during the elections.
The EC has already prepared the list of polling centres through the returning officers. According to the available data, 148 polling centres and 910 polling booths are fixed for the polls in Rajshahi City Corporation; 272 and 1,300 for Khulna; 150 and 820 for Sylhet; while 100 centres and 550 booths in Barisal have already been setup to hold the polls.
The EC is likely to appoint around 703 presiding officers, 3,759 assistant presiding officers and 7,518 polling officers.
Four returning officers and 12 assistant returning officers have already been appointed in order to hold the polls. If any allegations are brought against the election officials, the EC will remove the official and appoint a new one.
The EC is also collecting information, mainly present address, mobile and telephone numbers of the selected election officials.
According to the election schedule, there are 286,927 voters under 30 wards in Rajshahi City Corporation; 440,647 in 31 wards in Khulna; 210,530 in Barisal’s 30 wards; and 291,057 voters under 27 wards in the Sylhet City Corporation.
Elections to these city corporations were previsouly held on August 4, 2008.
