EC to control social media ahead of polls

The Election Commission (EC) is planning to monitor social media platforms ahead of the December 30 national polls. “We are planning and working on to control social media before the election,” EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said at a view-exchange meeting with field level officials and law enforcement agencies of Chattogram division yesterday. Ahmed, however, did not specify the date from when the EC would start its control of social media. He also asked the media not to publish any news that would create a sensation or make the EC’s functioning questionable. “We are working for a free and fair election, for a new government and a new parliament,” he added. Ahmed said the EC would ask the home ministry to issue a circular to the owners of licensed firearms to deposit their arms to the nearest police station ahead of the election. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda and Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury were also present at the meeting held in a community hall in the port city.

Chowdhury said compared to the other parts of the country, Chattogram division posed many challenges as it included three hilly districts and the presence of over one million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar. “But we (EC) will overcome all these challenges and hold a free, fair and above all lawful election,” he added. The poll commissioner also instructed the retuning officers to file daily reports on the local election situation and mobile courts.

“We want a lawful election. We want security for all voters so that they can go to the polling centres and return home safely after casting their votes. We also want all the candidates to get the same opportunities for campaigning and not face any obstacles,” he said. “We want security for elections materials, polling centres and all of you (poll officials),” he added. “In the mealtime, some isolated incidents of violence have taken place. We don’t want any more deaths or violence before the election that would destroy the atmosphere,” he said. Chowdhury also cautioned poll officials against “overenthusiastic activities” that could raise questions on the EC’s role.

EC to control social media ahead of polls

The Election Commission (EC) is planning to monitor social media platforms ahead of the December 30 national polls. We are planning and working on to control social media before the election, EC secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said at a view-exchange meeting with field level officials and law enforcement agencies of Chattogram division yesterday. Ahmed, however, did not specify the date from when the EC would start its control of social media. He also asked the media not to publish any news that would create a sensation or make the ECs functioning questionable. We are working for a free and fair election, for a new government and a new parliament, he added. Ahmed said the EC would ask the home ministry to issue a circular to the owners of licensed firearms to deposit their arms to the nearest police station ahead of the election. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda and Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury were also present at the meeting held in a community hall in the port city. Chowdhury said compared to the other parts of the country, Chattogram division posed many challenges as it included three hilly districts and the presence of over one million Rohingyas in Coxs Bazar. But we (EC) will overcome all these challenges and hold a free, fair and above all lawful election, he added. The poll commissioner also instructed the retuning officers to file daily reports on the local election situation and mobile courts. We want a lawful election. We want security for all voters so that they can go to the polling centres and return home safely after casting their votes. We also want all the candidates to get the same opportunities for campaigning and not face any obstacles, he said. We want security for elections materials, polling centres and all of you (poll officials), he added. In the mealtime, some isolated incidents of violence have taken place. We dont want any more deaths or violence before the election that would destroy the atmosphere, he said. Chowdhury also cautioned poll officials against overenthusiastic activities that could raise questions on the ECs role.