The Election Commission has asked the aspirant candidates of the upcoming Dhaka North and South City Corporation polls not to offer any sort of funds, reliefs or even make commitments until publishing the gazette of election result.
\In this regard, the EC on Saturday sent a letter to the secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief signed by deputy secretary of EC Atiar Rahman asking candidates and those on behalf of candidates not to do such activities.
The letter stated that candidates, political parties, individuals, organizations or institutions should not allow making any commitments or promise offerings funds and reliefs to any one from the announcement of the polls schedule until publishing the gazette notification of the election result as per the procedure-4 of electoral code of conduct (City Corporation Election).
“According to the polls schedule of DNCC and DSCC declared by the EC on December 22, polls will be held on January 30. If anyone violates the code of conduct, the Election Commission will take stern action,” the statement mentioned.
The Commission has also asked the ministry not to take any activities like issuance of VDG cards, and providing funds and relief in the polls area, the letter added.
However, the letter said the ongoing relief activities will be continued during the polls. If it is mandatory to continue taking such activities, the authority concerned must take prior permission from the EC through Deputy Commissioner.
According to the polls schedule, the last date of filing nomination paper was December 31. The returning officer scrutinized nomination paper on January 2. The late date of withdrawing nomination paper is on January 9. The EC will allocate election symbols among the candidates on January 10.
