Bangladesh CEC promises fair polls

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, AUG. 19. The Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. M.A. Syed, has announced the much-expected election schedule with the polling date fixed for October 1 and assured that all steps would be taken to hold a free, fair and credible election.

``The success of any election largely depends on the behaviour of contending candidates... I politely urge them to follow the election code of conduct and maintain peace showing mutual respect being imbued with democratic spirit,'' he said in a speech over radio and television tonight while announcing the schedule.

Under the schedule to elect the country's eighth Jatiya Sangsad - Parliament, the last date for filing nominations is August 29, while the nomination papers will be scrutinised on August 30 and 31. September 6 has been fixed as the last date for withdrawal of nominations while the voting will be held on October 1 (Monday). The country is going to elect a new Parliament after the last Parliament, for the first time in Bangladesh's history, survived its full term and a democratic Government led by the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, completed its full tenure.

The CEC said that despite fears of possible inclement weather, the election schedule was fixed after considering weather forecasts, consulting local and foreign meteorological experts and political parties.

Mr. Syed ``categorically'' said the independent Election Commission as well as the President and the Caretaker Government were pledge-bound to hold a neutral and peaceful election and ``we simply assure you to do everything possible so that you can freely go to polling stations and return home safely.'' The CEC said the army would be deployed along with paramilitary BDR, police, and ansars.

Mr. Syed said the independent commission made some changes in the rules to avoid confusions involving the election results in view of the ``bitter experiences'' in the past.

Under the changes, all election agents will have to sign the result sheets and they would be provided with copies of results. The presiding officers will write the number of votes polled by the candidates in words along with figures.

He said the commission this time had increased the number of polling centres to cope with the growing number of voters estimated to be about seven and a half crore.

He urged the government officials and employees to be engaged in election duties to maintain strict neutrality ignoring all illegal and unwanted influences assuring that the commission would ensure their all out security. But, he warned, in the event of failure to discharge duties with neutrality, the officials would face tough actions including imprisonment, retrenchment and penalty under the existing laws and be barred from duties in all future polls.

The Election Commission will now enjoy more power and elevated status, having authority over the entire district administration in line with the Constitution and existing electoral laws with the announcement of the election schedule.

No Deputy Commissioners or Superintendents of Police and their subordinate officials serving in the district will be transferred to any place without prior consultation with the commission until 15 days after the declaration of the result of the election, legal experts at the commission said.

``It shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission in the discharge of its functions,'' Article 126 of the Constitution says.

Under the Representation of People Order (RPO), the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police and their subordinate officials and the judicial officers below district judges must render their support for the purposes of election.

The commission may also transfer any official under the district and police administration if it thinks necessary for the sake of a free and fair election. ``A Deputy Commissioner or Superintendent of Police or any officer subordinate to any of them shall be transferred outside the district if the commission requests in writing that such transfer is necessary in the interest of fair election,`` section 44 E (2) of the RPO says.

It also said ``no person whose name appears in a panel prepared under Article 9 shall be transferred outside the district without the prior approval of the Returning officer till the polls are taken.''

The commission has already prepared a panel of polling personnel including the Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and Polling Officers.

Under another law enacted in 1991, the district administration and other officials concerned may face tough disciplinary actions including suspension and demotion for ``deliberate failure'' in election duties.

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