EC asks SPs to go tough on rules violation

The Election Commission has asked superintendent of police of all districts to file cases against violators of electoral code of conduct during the upcoming union parishad polls.

The SPs have also been directed to intensify patrol of law enforcers to maintain law and order.

Except for police, the EC has ordered all the returning officers (ROs) to lodge cases against the candidates who have already broken the electoral code after necessary inquiry.

The EC sent two separate letters with the directives to the SPs and the ROs on Monday, EC officials told The Daily Star.

The ROs must beef up activities of "observation and monitoring" team to take action against violation of the electoral law, the EC said in one of its letters.

Elections to 732 union parishads will be held on March 22 in first phase, while around 643 unions on March 31 in the second phase and around 680 UPs in the third phase on April 23.

CASE AGAINST MP

Police on Tuesday filed a case against ruling AL lawmaker for Barguna-2 constituency Shawkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon for violating electoral codes.

Rimon on March 5 joined a public rally at a school playground in Barguna and inaugurated a building of Polli Bidyut. He also introduced some chairman and councillor aspirants for the upcoming UP polls and seek vote for them at the rally.

MPs and ministers are not allowed to join any election campaign, and the inauguration of any development project is prohibited in electoral areas, the electoral code says.

On March 13, the EC sent a letter to Barguna's SP, asking him to file a case against the MP.

Later, Abdul Kuddus, inspector (inquiry) of Betagi Police Station, filed the case with the district judicial magistrate court on Tuesday, and Judicial Magistrate Md Belal Hossain ordered police to investigate the incident.

Anyone breaching the electoral code can be fined Tk 10,000 or imprisoned for six months or both.