Statues cannot “observe”

The Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed on November 20 gave election observers a number of directives. He said the observers would have to observe the election “like a statue.” According to his instructions, observers cannot bring mobile phones with them in the polling station or talk to the media during a live broadcast.

Such restrictive orders for observers are unprecedented and limit their purview. He even cited the example of Odhikar, which recently had its registration revoked, to tell observers that there will be consequences if they violate these instructions. This is unacceptable.

Observers should be allowed to use cameras and mobile phones in and around the polling stations because a picture can be worth a thousand words. And they should also be allowed to talk to the media because the citizens have a right to know about elections from credible sources like observers.