EC directive to stop advance campaigns

Staff Correspondent: The Election Commission (EC) has given a direction to stop advance campaigns before Thursday midnight (12.00am) ahead of municipality polls.

Copies of a letter signed by Assistant Secretary of EC Rajib Ahsan were sent to the law enforcing agencies and returning officers on Wednesday evening, confirmed EC Director (public relations) SM Asaduzzaman.

According to the letter, if an aspirant violates the directive, he or she will get punishment, even his candidature can be declared invalid.

The Election Commission (EC) will hold polls in 234 municipalities across Bangladesh on December 30.

 

According to the schedule, aspirants must submit their nomination papers to the returning officers within December 3.  Nomination papers will be scrutinized on December 5 and December 6. The last date to withdraw nomination papers is on December 13.


As per the new municipality act, the candidates nominated by different political parties registered with the Election Commission or independent aspirants will be able to contest the polls for the mayoral posts in the municipalities.


However, elections to the remaining councillor posts, including the reserve seats for women, of the municipalities will be held in non-partisan manner under the existing system.


Risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 26, 2015/Mithun/Mukul