Municipal polls

Take action against 2 ministers for code violation: EC

It fails to prepare party-wise list of mayoral candidates

 The Election Commission yesterday asked the returning officer of Phulpur municipality in Mymensingh to take proper steps against the alleged violation of electoral code of  conduct by two ministers, reports UNB.
The EC sent a letter to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Returning Officer of Phulpur municipality election Subrata Paul asking him to inform the commission after taking proper steps in this regard.
In the letter, the EC said a newspaper ran a story on December 7 over the breach of election code in Phulpur municipality. “Under such circumstance, you’re requested to inform the Election Commission in written taking proper steps in this regard,” the letter reads.
A copy of the news item was also attached with the letter.
According to the news story, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman joined a rally on December 3 at Phulpur where both of them urged local party men to remain united and work together to ensure the victory of AL-nominated mayoral aspirant there.
Besides, the EC is likely to give directives to issue show-cause notices or take  other action against around five more MPs for beaching the election code in different municipalities.
As per the Municipal (Election Code of Conduct) Rules 2015, the ministers and MPs are not allowed to participate in electioneering and election activities.
Earlier on Sunday, the EC served show-cause notices on the three MPs asking them to explain within three days why they should not be charged with the violation of the electoral code of conduct. In reply, the lawmakers apologised to the commission.

Meanwhile, the EC has been unable to provide the party-wise lists of valid and invalid mayoral candidates even four days after scrutiny of nomination papers, thanks to the lack of coordination among its officials and their inefficiency, adds our staff correspondent.
Over the past four days, the EC made efforts to prepare the list of valid and invalid mayoral candidates on the basis of parties, but all these went up in smoke because they could not gather correct data. The EC had planned to provide the list to media-persons yesterday, but could not do so.
EC sources said the list would now be published on December 14.
The people still do not know the actual number of valid mayoral candidates in the fray of the municipality elections after the scrutiny, as the EC has not been able to prepare the list yet. After talking to different EC officials, it was learnt that the reasons were the absence of coordination between field-level officials and the central commission and the inefficiency of different officials.
The EC had given the responsibility to complete the task to around 14 of its officials, but missing data or excess data were noted during the assimilation, which resulted in errors in the information in its totality.
A total of 20 political parties has nominated candidates for the upcoming municipality polls, scheduled to be held on December 30, as the mayoral elections—part of the municipality polls—will be held for the first time under party symbols.

Municipal polls

Take action against 2 ministers for code violation: EC

It fails to prepare party-wise list of mayoral candidates

The Election Commission yesterday asked the returning officer of Phulpur municipality in Mymensingh to take proper steps against the alleged violation of electoral code of conduct by two ministers, reports UNB. The EC sent a letter to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Returning Officer of Phulpur municipality election Subrata Paul asking him to inform the commission after taking proper steps in this regard. In the letter, the EC said a newspaper ran a story on December 7 over the breach of election code in Phulpur municipality. Under such circumstance, youre requested to inform the Election Commission in written taking proper steps in this regard, the letter reads. A copy of the news item was also attached with the letter. According to the news story, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman joined a rally on December 3 at Phulpur where both of them urged local party men to remain united and work together to ensure the victory of AL-nominated mayoral aspirant there. Besides, the EC is likely to give directives to issue show-cause notices or take other action against around five more MPs for beaching the election code in different municipalities. As per the Municipal (Election Code of Conduct) Rules 2015, the ministers and MPs are not allowed to participate in electioneering and election activities. Earlier on Sunday, the EC served show-cause notices on the three MPs asking them to explain within three days why they should not be charged with the violation of the electoral code of conduct. In reply, the lawmakers apologised to the commission. Meanwhile, the EC has been unable to provide the party-wise lists of valid and invalid mayoral candidates even four days after scrutiny of nomination papers, thanks to the lack of coordination among its officials and their inefficiency, adds our staff correspondent. Over the past four days, the EC made efforts to prepare the list of valid and invalid mayoral candidates on the basis of parties, but all these went up in smoke because they could not gather correct data. The EC had planned to provide the list to media-persons yesterday, but could not do so. EC sources said the list would now be published on December 14. The people still do not know the actual number of valid mayoral candidates in the fray of the municipality elections after the scrutiny, as the EC has not been able to prepare the list yet. After talking to different EC officials, it was learnt that the reasons were the absence of coordination between field-level officials and the central commission and the inefficiency of different officials. The EC had given the responsibility to complete the task to around 14 of its officials, but missing data or excess data were noted during the assimilation, which resulted in errors in the information in its totality. A total of 20 political parties has nominated candidates for the upcoming municipality polls, scheduled to be held on December 30, as the mayoral electionspart of the municipality pollswill be held for the first time under party symbols.