EC forms five committees to coordinate general election

To prepare for the 13th parliamentary election, the Election Commission has formed five special coordination and oversight committees, covering law and order, field administration, and other areas.

The committees will be led by four election commissioners, with seven members working under each.

Separate office orders on this topic were issued on Thursday, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Shah Alam.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah will lead the law and order coordination committee. He will also be responsible for coordinating expatriate voting and the local and international election observers.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud will head the committee on electoral laws, rules, and regulations.

Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker will serve as the head of the field administration coordination committee, while Commissioner Tahmida Ahmad will lead the committee for forming the panel of polling officials and overseeing training activities.

These special committees have been formed following instructions from the chief advisor to complete all election-related preparations by December.

 

SANAULLAH TO OVERSEE LAW AND ORDER

The law and order coordination committee, led by Sanaullah, includes the following members: EC senior secretary, additional secretary, project director (IDA Project Phase 2), joint secretary (Administration and Finance), joint secretary (Election Management-2), and deputy secretary (Election Management-2), who will act as the secretary. The committee may co-opt any officer as needed.

Scope of work:

• Devising security plans for conducting the election.
• Monitoring and coordinating the activities of law-enforcing agencies deployed for the election.
• Ensuring coordination between the police, RAB, BGB, Coast Guard, Armed Forces, Ansar, and other relevant bodies.
• Coordinating between different law-enforcing agencies for maintaining peace and order in polling centres and electoral areas.
• Coordinating the deployment of law-enforcing agencies as mobile and striking forces for securely transporting and distributing ballot papers and other electoral materials, and supporting returning officers and presiding officers in the election process.
• Assessing potential threats of violence, terrorism, or unrest and taking preventative measures in consultation with relevant forces.
• Other relevant matters.

COMMITTEE FOR EXPAT VOTES AND OVERSERVERS

Sanaullah will also lead the committee on expatriate voting and domestic and foreign election observers.

Other members of the committee include: EC senior secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary (Election Management-2), deputy secretary (Election Assistance and Supplies), director (Public Relations), system manager (ICT), with the option to co-opt any additional officer as needed.

Scope of work:

• Developing procedures for allowing Bangladeshi expatriates to exercise their voting rights.
• Coordinating all matters related to expatriate voting.
• Coordinating with embassies and relevant ministries and agencies on expatriate voter rights.
• Overseeing and coordinating the activities of domestic and foreign election observers according to the observer policy.
• Handling other related matters.

 

ELECTORAL LAW

During elections, the EC forms electoral inquiry committees composed of joint district judges who investigate irregularities and recommend action. This time, the EC will directly monitor their activities.

Masud will oversee the drafting, amending, and reviewing of electoral laws, rules, regulations, and policies, and monitor the electoral inquiry committees.

Other committee members are: EC senior secretary, additional secretary, joint secretary (Law), joint secretary (Election Management-1), deputy secretary (Election Management-2), and deputy secretary (Election Assistance and Supply), who will serve as the secretary. The committee may co-opt any officer as needed.

Scope of work:

• Carrying out tasks related to the drafting, revision, and amendment of electoral laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Overseeing and coordinating the compilation of manuals for the interpretation and implementation of laws by field administration, law-enforcing agencies, returning officers, and polling officers.
• Monitoring and coordinating the activities of electoral inquiry committees.
• Managing other relevant issues.

FIELD ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Anwarul will chair the field administration coordination committee.

Members include: EC senior secretary, additional secretary, director general of the NID Wing, joint secretary (Administration and Finance), joint secretary (Election Management-2), and deputy secretary (Election Management-2). The committee may co-opt other officers as needed.

Scope of work:

• Maintaining regular communication, coordination, and consultation with civil officers engaged in election duties.
• Providing instructions for implementing electoral activities at the field level.
• Developing and monitoring a reliable and timely reporting system for information flowing in from the field to the EC.
• Offering immediate guidance and support for resolving any crises that may arise during the election period.
• Coordinating and consulting executive magistrates on enforcing the code of conduct.
• Handling other related matters.

APPOINTING POLLING OFFICERS

An office order has also been issued for preparing the panel of polling officials, led by Tahmida.

Members include: EC senior secretary, additional secretary, director general of the National Identity Registration Wing, joint secretary (Administration and Finance), joint secretary (Election Management-2), and deputy secretary (Election Management-2), who will act as the secretary. The committee may co-opt other officers as needed.

Scope of work:

• Preparing and supervising the panel of polling officers for national and local government elections.
• Overseeing the appointment of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers based on qualifications, experience, and skills.
• Monitoring and coordinating the training of polling officers.
• Handling other related matters.

At the capital’s Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday, the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam provided updates on the 13th General Election. He reaffirmed the government's intention to complete preparations before Ramadan, suggesting the election could be held in February.

He also mentioned that around 800,000 law enforcement personnel would be deployed for the election, and the chief advisor has instructed that their training be completed by December to ensure a peaceful election.