Poster control ordinance okayed

The council of advisers yesterday approved in principle the Graffiti and Poster Control Ordinance 2008 in order to keep candidates from campaigning by such means.
The new law will also restrict commercial advertisement by graffiti and posters.
"The ordinance has been framed to help enforce the restrictions imposed on graffiti and posters under the electoral code of conduct recently promulgated," it is stated in the objective of the ordinance.
The council of advisers also approved amendments to the amended Representation of People Order (RPO) to reduce time for clearing bank loans and utility bills by candidates, from 15 days to seven days from submission of nomination.
The advisory council meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, decided to place the Election Commission Secretariat under the Cabinet Division for effective its functioning.
The caretaker government had earlier made the Election Commission Secretariat independent of the Prime Minister's Office.
The meeting decided that National Agriculture Day would be observed on the first of Agrahayan every Bangla year.
Chief adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim briefed reporters on the outcome of the meeting.