1,200 magistrates to ‘check’ polls irregularities

Some 1,200 magistrates will be deployed in 233 municipalities across the country for four days ahead of the December 30 election to check the violation of the electoral code of conduct.

A total of 1197 magistrates – 237 judicial magistrates and 960 executive magistrates – will conduct mobile courts to punish polls code violation from December 28 to December 31 in the municipalities.

The Election Commission has decided to deploy the magistrates two days before the December 30 election and keep them in the field till a day after the voting.

“We’ve decided to deploy some 1,200 magistrates for four days. But, the period of their deployment may be extended on the basis of situation in the field,” Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Zabed Ali told UNB.

The commission will take all possible measures necessary for arranging the municipal election in a fair manner, Zabed Ali said.

The EC also sent letters to the public administration ministry and the law ministry last week seeking steps for posting the magistrates on the election duty for the four days, said Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC Secretariat Antara Ghosh.

Of the 1200 magistrates, 233 executive ones have already been deployed in the same number of municipalities after the deadline for withdrawal of candidature expired. “They’re now conducting mobile courts to check the violation of election code in the municipalities,” she said.

Besides, at least a judicial magistrate will be deployed in each 229 municipalities, while two judicial magistrates will be posted in each of four large municipalities, the official said.

An executive magistrate will be kept in the field for every three wards of municipalities. As there are 2,182 wards in the 234 municipalities, some 727 executive magistrates will be required for that, she added.

The Law Cell of the EC will receive information about the incidents of violation of the election code from the municipalities and will place its reports to the Election Commission compiling all the incidents during the four days.

According to statistics provided by the Commission, 12,000 candidates – 919 mayoral, 8,558 general councillor and 2,522 women councillor contenders in reserved seats – are contesting the polls.

More than 70 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to elect their 3,145 representatives, including 233 mayors, 727 women (reserved seats) councillors and 2,182 general councillors in the 233 municipalities.