Election Commission (EC) has decided to instruct the government not to invite returning officers to any gathering or meeting to avoid possible scopes of undue influence in the upcoming polls.
Based on the decision, the commission will soon send letters to Cabinet Division, ministries and others entities concerned, EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told journalists after the commission's meeting on Tuesday.
EC took the decision against the backdrop of media reports and allegations from BNP that the returning officers were summoned by Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on November 13, and were briefed to act on behalf of the government.
"Following media reports, we've decided to send letters to the government, instructing it not to invite the returning officers to any gathering or meeting before the election. They (officers) are now under (the control of) EC," the secretary said.
Regarding BNP's allegations of appointing 45 mentors to oversee the upcoming general polls, Mr. Ahmed said Cabinet Division on November 8 gave appointment to 45 current and former government officials as mentors.
"But, the cabinet postponed the decision on November 13. Appointing mentors is a traditional practice, and the previous governments did it also in the past."
When asked whether or not EC was earlier informed about the mentor appointment process, he responded negatively, saying that it was a routine work of Cabinet Division.
The EC secretary was made one of the mentors.
Earlier, a team of BNP, led by its Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, went to EC. The team submitted a number of allegations that the party thinks will affect creating level-playing field in the polls.
For the sake of ensuring a level-playing field, BNP demanded withdrawal of the divisional commissioners, Inspector General of Police (IGP), and police commissioners in the metropolitan cities.
It also demanded reshuffling of the deputy police commissioners in the metropolis, who have been working for more than two years in a particular city.
BNP, in another letter signed by its secretary general, also demanded punitive actions against the EC secretary, a joint secretary of EC, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner, and deputy commissioner (Motijheel) of DMP.
Earlier on the day, EC held a meeting with local observers, where it warned them not to violate the observation pre-conditions, like - refraining from talking with media as well as keeping mobile phones in the polling centres on the election day.
The EC secretary said license of the election monitoring entities will be scrapped following violation of the conditions.
"The observers can't talk, comment and give live interview to media. They cannot keep mobile phones with them, and cannot take any photo."
He also said the observers can monitor overall polling atmosphere, and can submit their concerns instantly, if they find any, on the election day.
"The election observers must stay at polling stations, even if irregularities take place there."
But the observers cannot go to the marking room or polling booths, he added.
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