Dhaka, Nov 20 – The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday asked the local election observers that they are not allowed to talk to the media about the election situation during their observation of 11th parliamentary polls.Even the observers are not allowed to carry mobile phones or to take
snaps during the election rather they will only observe the election
like a ‘standing statue’.
While briefing to the representatives of the local election observer
agencies at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital, EC secretary Helal
Uddin Ahmed yesterday imposed such embargos.
“The election observers will observe the polls just like a standing
statue. They cannot talk to the media to make any comments. Even they
are not allowed to carry mobile phones and take any snaps. They cannot
enter marked place of the booth. They will only observe the
irregularities during the election,” he said.
The secretary also told the representatives of the election observer
agencies, “When you will appoint observers you will tell them some
cautionary speeches. They have to hang the EC’s identity cards all the
time so that anybody can understand you are an observer. After
entering the centre, you will tell your identity to the presiding
officers,”
“An observer will submit only one report to you. Then you will compile
all the reports of your observers and submit it to the Commission. You
cannot make any comment before submitting a report to EC. After it you
can hold a press conference,” he added.
“You will also clearly tell your observers that they will not enter
marked place of the booth. They cannot give any direction to
anybody. They will not give any suggestion to presiding officer,
polling officer,” the secretary said.
“If any irregularities occur in a centre, you cannot verbally inform
it to the Commission. The report has to be in writing and specific,”
he added.
The secretary said, “The role of the observer will be neutral. Don’t
appoint any person who has a political identity.”
“Be careful of your action. Your action can be responsible for losing
your registration. Don’t do anything that can raise a question about the
election,” he added.
About the 11th parliamentary polls, Helal Uddin said, “This election,
we hope, would be peaceful and competitive. This election has many
features like all political parties will contest, the parliament will
not dissolve and the election will be held under incumbent government.”
He said the Commission will deploy the army, BGB, police, RAB, Ansar,
coast guard in the election for maintaining law and order. Electronic
voting machines will be introduced in the parliamentary polls for the
first time at some centres, he added.
The Commission has given registration to 118 local election observer
agencies to observe the elections.
As per the election observation policy, the presence of observers in
the election creates confidence among voters about the transparent process
of elections. – Staff Reporter
