Ministers asked not to visit 7 constituencies

The Election Commission (EC) has requested ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and other individuals enjoying similar status not to visit the seven constituencies during the April 2 by-polls.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday, EC made the request in a bid to hold the by-elections in a free and fair manner.

The EC has also sent separate letters to Speaker Abdul Hamid and the Cabinet Division requesting the lawmakers and government high-ups to avoid such visits.

Talking to reporters yesterday at his office, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain revealed it and said the commission seeks cooperation from all to hold the by-elections free and fair.

Asked whether Leader of the Opposition and BNP chief Khaleda Zia can visit the constituencies to campaign for her party contenders, Sakhawat said she enjoys the status of a minister and thus cannot make any visit.

The electoral code of conduct does not allow any member of the council of ministers and individuals who enjoy the status of a member of the council of ministers to campaign for any contenders in the by-polls.

Although the code of conduct does not impose any restriction on the lawmakers, EC has requested them not to campaign by visiting the constituencies.

Rangpur-3 & 6, Kurigram-2, Bogra-6 & 7, Bagerhat-1 and Kishoreganj-6 constituencies will go to by-elections on April 2.

Yesterday was the last day for filing applications seeking candidacy in the polls. The returning officers will scrutinise those on March 11 and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is March 17.

After expiring the last date, the candidates will be allowed to do election campaigns.

Sakhawat said EC expects that all contenders will do the campaigns as per the electoral code of conduct.

Asked about holding the long due election to Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), he said the commission wants to hold the poll by next June. He added the election to DCC would be held using the existing voter list with photograph and the electoral roll under DCC would not be updated now.

Meanwhile, EC has planned to set up a new wing under its Secretariat to issue national identity cards as the ordinance promulgated by the immediate past caretaker government to set up a new organisation for it was not ratified.

Officials in the EC Secretariat said they are now drafting a new law for setting up a wing or division to deal with issuance of national ID cards.

"Once it's ready, the draft law will be sent to the government to take necessary steps," a senior official said.

During preparation for the voter list with photograph, national ID cards for voters have already been prepared and the country's rest of the citizens will be provided with the national ID cards in future.

Officials in the EC Secretariat said if the new wing is set up, EC could use its countrywide network for the purpose without going to establish new a setup.

"The existing Election Commission network across the country just requires being equipped with some logistics," a senior official said.