Election Commission staff submit demands with threat of work-abstention

The Election Commission officials on Tuesday set a deadline of December 4 to keep the National Identity Registration (NID) department under their control and stop all postings.

Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association submitted a copy of the written decisions to the EC secretary and Chief Election Commissioner after meeting today, according to UNB.

If the demand is not implemented, they will start a movement for it within a day, the association informed.

The demands of the officials are: retainment of NID service activities under the Election Commission, stoppage of all postings on deputation in the Election Commission Secretariat, ensuring visible and effective steps to fill the vacant posts, approval of the EVM project proposed by the Commission including logistics (warehouse and vehicles), and implementation of the proposed organizational structure as soon as possible.

They said if visible measures are not taken by December 4 (Sunday) in all these matters, the EC officials will sport black badges on December 5 (Monday) and abstain from work for half a day on December 8 (Thursday).

They also said if no visible effective action is taken within that period, strict action will be taken as decided by the executive council of the association.

The announced programme will be held simultaneously at the Election Commission Secretariat, NID, Electoral Training Institute and all the field level offices.

However, the announced election activities will be exempted from the demonstration, they added.

A copy of the document signed by Bangladesh Election Commission Officers Association President Muhammad Hasanuzzaman and Secretary General Rashedul Islam was also sent to journalists.