As part of a massive reshuffle in the local administrations and law-enforcement agencies to ensure a fair JS polls, the Election Commission on Monday approved transfer orders of 47 Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs).
With the approval of transfer of 47 UNOs, the process of reshuffles in the local administrations and law-enforcement agencies have already been started.
Sources in the EC said, the EC has decided to reshuffle local administrations and law-enforcement agencies on the basis of reports received from the field levels.
As per the EC’s decision, alongside a larger number of Deputy Commissioners (DCs), 250 UNOs and 320 Officers-in-Charge (OCs) will be transferred across the country in phases.
The EC sources said, in the first phase, the EC on Monday approved transfers of 13 UNOs in Dhaka Division, eight in Chattogram, six in Sylhet, six in Mymensingh, six in Rajshahi, four in Khulna, two in Barishal and two in Rangpur divisions.
As per the Representation of the People Order (RPO) related to the national election laws, none of the government officials and employees could be transferred without consent of the EC.
EC sources said, as desired by the EC, DCs of Mymensingh and Sunamganj have already been transferred while transfer of many other DCs are under consideration.
Ashok Kumar Debnath, Additional Secretary of the EC, on Monday said the EC on Monday approached the Ministry of Public Administration to transfer 47 UNOs, while proposals for 20 others await its approval.
He said, the commission has so far received transfer proposals for 67 UNOs,
Asked about possible numbers, the additional secretary of the EC said, "In the first phase, approximately 320 OCs and 250 UNOs may be transferred, given the condition that OCs serving in their present workplace for more than six months, and UNOs serving in their present workplace for more than a year should be transferred first."
Meanwhile, according to a notification issued by the EC on Monday, the commission has extended the deadline for submission of transfer proposals for OCs from December 5 to December 8.
On Thursday, the Election Commission asked the Home Ministry and Public Administration Ministry to transfer all the OCs and UNOs to help conduct the upcoming election in a fair manner.
It also directed the ministries to seek its permission for transferring OCs stationed in the same workplace for more than six months and UNOs stationed in the same workplace for more than a year by December 5.
It should be mentioned, to ensure the JS polls free and fair, the EC authorities have taken various measures. The EC formed 300 Pre-election Judicial Enquiry Committees to maintain the electoral code of conduct and ensure safety and security of the candidates and voters.
Besides, 802 Executive Magistrates have been engaged for the same purpose while over 7.5 lakh personnel from different law-enforcement agencies, including Police, RAB, BGB, Ansar and Coast Guard, will remain deployed across the country.
In addition, a large contingent of Army personnel will also be engaged across the country.
The JS election is scheduled for January 7. As per the polls schedule, the EC completed the primary process of nomination scrutiny on Monday. The candidates can appeal before the EC from today to December 15 and the last date for withdrawal candidatures on December 17. Electoral symbols will be distributed among the candidates on December 18. Candidates will be allowed to run campaigns from December 18 to 8:00 pm on January 5.
Alongside 774 independent candidates, a total of 29 out of 44 registered political parties are taking part in the elections. The number of total candidates so far is 2,712.