Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Md Alamgir yesterday said they would direct the law enforcers not to interrupt the journalists engaged in gathering news during the Dhaka city corporation polls day. He also said journalists would be allowed to ply motorcycles with proper papers issued by the Election Commission during Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation elections on February 1. “We have already informed the police of the matter during our meeting with law enforcers. We would again request them to allow the journalists to collect their news from the centres without any prevention or interruption,” he said.  Alamgir came up with the statement in reply to a query while holding views exchange meeting with the journalists at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

The senior secretary was told that the journalists in many cases are barred from entering the election centres by the law enforcers especially by police. Even journalists also asked that the Commission to give the directives to the law enforcers but they face trouble in the filed while collecting news. “We would request the law enforcers to allow journalists enjoying the rights given as per the rules for them,” he added. Alamgir also said the Commission would also think of reforming the election rules at the centres so that journalists do not face troubles in discharging their duties.

About plying motorbikes by the journalists on polling day, he said, “The Commission has decided to allow journalists to ride their motorbikes while gathering news. But only the journalists having stickers pasted on their motorbikes are allowed.”

Meanwhile, EC yesterday issued a notice regarding the motorbike use by the newsmen. The notice issued by Md Israil Hossain, director (public relations) said, “The journalists would be able to ply their motorbikes having stickers issued by EC to collect news on the polling day.” “But the journalists are not allowed to enter the election centres with their bikes. Besides, the journalists should carry their identity cards issued by the Commission,” it added.