ZILA PARISHAD POLLS
MPs asked to leave constituencies
Electioneering ends; polls tomorrow
UNB
The electioneering in the Zila Parishad (district council) elections across the country ended Monday midnight, 32 hours before voting opens tomorrow, UNB reports. Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz yesterday urged the MPs to leave the election areas, warning that the Election Commission (EC) would take legal action for unlawfully influencing the voters. Weve received complaints that some candidates and MPs are trying to influence voters going to their own constituencies weve asked them to leave the election areas for the sake of fair election, he told reporters at his EC Secretariat office.
A total of 63,143 voters, including 14,800 women, who are elected representatives of other local bodies, will be allowed to cast ballots in the district council elections in 61 districts to be held in non-partisan manner unlike polls to other local bodies. Shah Nawaz said an executive magistrate will be deployed in each polling station to punish election irregularities.
Besides, an adequate number of law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, BGB and Coast Guard, will be deployed to ensure security in each polling station, he added.
The Election Commission also imposed restrictions on carrying mobile phone inside the polling station, said an EC handout yesterday.
He also said if any voter put any sign or mark on the ballot paper, the ballot will be cancelled. Deputy Commissioners are acting as the returning officers of the district council elections, while district election officers as assistant returning officers.
In each district council, all the elected representatives --mayor/chairman, councillors/members and vice chairmen-- of the city corporations, upazila parishad, pourasavas and union parishads under the district will elect a 21-member body for the district council.
