Mahbub to EC: Strictly enforce electoral code of conduct

logo January 13th, 2020
17-12-18-EC Mahbub Talukdar_Press Briefing-2-focus-bangla

File photo of Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder Focus Bangla

He has expressed concerns over MPs’ role in the upcoming city polls

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar has asked the Election Commission to strictly enforce the electoral code of conduct in the Dhaka city polls.

He served the commission with an “Unofficial Note” (U-note) on Monday expressing his concerns over the role of the MPs in the upcoming city polls.

Mahbub asked the commission to clarify its instruction regarding the involvement of the lawmakers.

On January 9, he had served the commission with another notice over the same matter.

“The confusion regarding the MPs and ministers’ participation in the polls campaign has deepened,” he said at the time.

He added that lawmakers or ministers taking part in the campaign is a clear violation of the electoral code of conduct 2016.

Unless clarifications are made, the commission will face crisis and the elections will become questionable, he said

Elections to the Dhaka North and South city corporations are slated for January 30. The commission has said the entire balloting will be held through electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Along with electing the mayors, voters in North will also elect 54 ward councillors and 18 reserved women councillors while in the South, 75 ward councillors and 25 reserved women councillors are due to be elected.