Chumki seeks woman election commissioner

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki on Tuesday said the election symbols for candidates of reserved seats of women councilors in upcoming municipality polls are `very disgraceful.`

"The Election Commission (EC) has expressed their traditional mentality by allocating these symbols," she said speaking as the chief guest at a gathering after a rally in the city marking the International Day for Prevention of Women Repression and Begum Rokeya Day 2015.

The state minister said women no more remains confined to their houses. They are flying planes, running trains and shooting guns, she added.

She posed a question why the EC fixed `bangle` and not `airplane` as poll symbol for women.

The EC had earlier allocated such `embarrassing` poll symbols for women too, Meher Afroze Chumki said and added that it was then duly protested.

"After that, this type of irresponsibility on the part of the EC is unfortunate," she said.

The state minister demanded appointing a woman as election commissioner.

Secretary of Women and Children Affairs Ministry Nasima Begum also spoke on the occasion. Organized by the department of women affairs, the rally started from in front of Mahila Bhaban at Eskaton and ended in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh.

People from different strata took part in the rally.