Remove campaign materials within seven days: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has asked all political parties to remove all their campaign materials and election camps set up by their candidates within seven days (by Friday) at their own expense. EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said, “If this instruction is not followed, the commission will take stringent action against them as per the electoral code of conduct.” While talking to journalists at his office in the Election Bhaban, he said no candidate or political party can launch an election campaign before the allocation of electoral symbols on November 30.

The contestants for the 11th parliamentary polls will be able to start their respective electoral campaigns from December 1. The elections will be held on December 23.

The commission has also asked all the registered political parties that wish to participate in the polls in alliances to inform the EC about it within the next three days, he said.

The secretary said, “If any political party wants to join the elections though any coalition, it will have to inform the commission within the next three days. The commission has already sent letters to all the registered political parties in this respect,” he added.

According to the letter, the commission said as per Article 20 (1) (a) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, if more than one political party forms an electoral alliance willing to contest the elections, a single electoral symbol can be allocated to the alliance. If the alliance wants to get this common symbol, the alliance has to inform the commission

with three days of the announcement of the schedule. The commission announced the schedule on November 8. The last date of submission of nomination papers is November 19, the scrutiny of nominations will be carried out on November 22 and withdrawal of nominations can be done on November 29.

The secretary said if any unregistered party wants to participate the elections through an alliance, the EC will impose no bar, as per the law.

Meanwhile, the EC also issued a press release yesterday (Friday) saying that the commission has directed all parties to remove the posters, banners, graffiti, billboards, gates, archways, lighting arrangements and other campaign-related materials of probable candidates before midnight on 14 November at their own expense. Local government institutions, including city corporations and municipalities, have been given instructions to take all necessary steps.

When talk of the national elections came up, some political parties started putting up campaign materials with party symbols and prospective candidates’ posters, banners and graffiti across the country, especially in the big cities, ahead of the election schedule.

In such a situation, the EC issued the directive to remove the election materials before the distribution of election symbols.

On the online submission of nominations, Helal Uddin said, “The online submission of nominations will begin on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, the EC on Thursday appointed returning officers and assistant returning officers in the 64 districts for holding the 11th parliamentary elections. The local divisional commissioners will act as returning officers in Dhaka and Chattogram city corporation areas.

Besides, the EC—under Article 44B (3) of the RPO—has fixed the ceiling of election expenditure for a single candidate at up to Tk. 25 lakh. This figure will include the expenditure by the party as well.

Remove campaign materials within seven days: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has asked all political parties to remove all their campaign materials and election camps set up by their candidates within seven days (by Friday) at their own expense. EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said, If this instruction is not followed, the commission will take stringent action against them as per the electoral code of conduct. While talking to journalists at his office in the Election Bhaban, he said no candidate or political party can launch an election campaign before the allocation of electoral symbols on November 30. The contestants for the 11th parliamentary polls will be able to start their respective electoral campaigns from December 1. The elections will be held on December 23. The commission has also asked all the registered political parties that wish to participate in the polls in alliances to inform the EC about it within the next three days, he said. The secretary said, If any political party wants to join the elections though any coalition, it will have to inform the commission within the next three days. The commission has already sent letters to all the registered political parties in this respect, he added. According to the letter, the commission said as per Article 20 (1) (a) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, if more than one political party forms an electoral alliance willing to contest the elections, a single electoral symbol can be allocated to the alliance. If the alliance wants to get this common symbol, the alliance has to inform the commission with three days of the announcement of the schedule. The commission announced the schedule on November 8. The last date of submission of nomination papers is November 19, the scrutiny of nominations will be carried out on November 22 and withdrawal of nominations can be done on November 29. The secretary said if any unregistered party wants to participate the elections through an alliance, the EC will impose no bar, as per the law. Meanwhile, the EC also issued a press release yesterday (Friday) saying that the commission has directed all parties to remove the posters, banners, graffiti, billboards, gates, archways, lighting arrangements and other campaign-related materials of probable candidates before midnight on 14 November at their own expense. Local government institutions, including city corporations and municipalities, have been given instructions to take all necessary steps. When talk of the national elections came up, some political parties started putting up campaign materials with party symbols and prospective candidates posters, banners and graffiti across the country, especially in the big cities, ahead of the election schedule. In such a situation, the EC issued the directive to remove the election materials before the distribution of election symbols. On the online submission of nominations, Helal Uddin said, The online submission of nominations will begin on Sunday. Meanwhile, the EC on Thursday appointed returning officers and assistant returning officers in the 64 districts for holding the 11th parliamentary elections. The local divisional commissioners will act as returning officers in Dhaka and Chattogram city corporation areas. Besides, the ECunder Article 44B (3) of the RPOhas fixed the ceiling of election expenditure for a single candidate at up to Tk. 25 lakh. This figure will include the expenditure by the party as well.