EC urges election observers to abide by rules on polls day

Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed today urged the poll observers not to pass any comment to the media during the voting.

“Please don’t make any comment to the media before submitting your written reports. You can organize press conference after submitting your reports,” he said while briefing the representatives of local observer organizations at the Nirbachan Bhaban in city’s Agargaon on the rules and regulations to be followed during the parliamentary election on December 30, BSS reported.

“The observers would not be allowed to enter the polling booth and use mobile phones and they will be barred from taking pictures,” Ahmed said.

He said the registration of any organization might be canceled if it goes beyond the policy of the EC.

“The polls observers will monitor only the irregularities in the polling centers and submit their written reports to the EC through the proper authorities,” Ahmed added.

The EC secretary said the observers or observer organization will be neutral and cannot do anything which can favour any candidate.

He urged the observer organizations not to employ any member of any political party as an observer in the forthcoming polls.

The 11th parliamentary election will be competitive one and it will be held in peaceful and congenial environment with the participation of all political parties, he said.

Members of army, BGB, police, RAB, Ansar-VDP and coastguard will be deployed in the electoral areas, he said, adding: “This is the first time that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in some polling centers in the general election.”

Ahmed urged the observers to bear the identity cards (ID) provided by the EC and meet with the presiding officer during the election.

A total of 118 organisations have so far been registered with the EC to monitor the election. The 11th parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on December 30.