Police OC's partisan role
A video clip showing the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kolaroa Police Station in Satkhira has taken social media by storm. In it the OC is seen calling for people to vote for AL. Although the OC has denied the allegation, the video clip has been authenticated by statements by other police officials. We would like to know how a police officer can make such a biased political statement, in public and in favour of a political party that is running for election. It is good news that following video evidence, the EC issued an order and the officer has been withdrawn. But the EC needs to be far more vigilant so that such violations of the electoral code of conduct do not happen in the first place. The candidate from the constituency who submitted the complaint to the EC has said that the local returning officer had not taken "any steps in this regard despite repeated appeals".
Indeed, electoral campaigning at the Satkhira 1 constituency has been anything but peaceful. There have been numerous allegations against ruling party men of attacking the opposition camp. In the midst of such a charged atmosphere, we have an officer of the law openly currying favour with the ruling party candidate and assigning himself the role of party spokesman.
As we understand it, a formal complaint has been lodged against the OC in question and the EC (already under fire for being too complacent when it comes to stamping its authority on the police) would be ill-advised to pass this incident on as being minor or an isolated incident. Similar complaints have been launched in the last so many days against other police officials who are allegedly guilty of acts that point to their acting in ways that are anything but neutral. If it is the intention of the EC to present a credible election to the people, these anomalies by law enforcers must be checked now. The EC must make it absolutely clear that public officials openly campaigning for candidates is a violation of the code of conduct.
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