Minister-MPs instructed not to participate in campaigning in upazila elections
The Election Commission (EC) has directed ministers and members of parliament not to participate in the campaigns of candidates for the upcoming Sixth Upazila Parishad elections.
Deputy Secretary of EC election management Atiyar Rahman sent a letter to the returning officers on Sunday (May 5) to implement the directive.
It has been said that in the sixth upazila parishad election honorable members of parliament and government beneficiaries may send a letter to the returning officer to refrain from participating in the election campaign by going to the election area and referring to the provisions of the upazila parishad code of conduct. The commission gave its decision.
In this regard, Rule 22 of the Upazila Parishad (Election Conduct) Rules, 2016 states, (1) Government beneficiary very important persons and no government officer or employee shall participate in campaigning or election activities in the constituency during the pre-election period: Provided that, if such person is a voter of the concerned constituency, he can only go to the polling station to cast his vote.
During the pre-election period, no contesting candidate or any other person, or organization on his behalf can use government propaganda machine, government vehicles, use any other government facilities and government officials or employees for election purposes.
Election Commission is conducting polling in four phases in 476 upazilas out of 495 upazilas. Election time for 19 upazila parishads has not yet taken place, later voting will be held in all those parishads.
According to the schedule announced by the EC, polling will be held in the first phase in 150 upazilas on May 8, in the second phase in 160 upazilas on May 21, in the third phase in 112 upazilas on May 29 and in the fourth phase in 55 upazilas on June 5. In the first phase, 22, 24 in the second phase, 21 in the third phase and two upazilas in the fourth phase will be conducted in electronic voting machines (EVM).