Law and Order in Polls: Police, Rab seek Tk 462cr from EC

The police and Rapid Action Battalion have sought more than half of the total election budget of Tk 700 crore for maintaining law and order during the upcoming national polls.

“We have received a proposal from the police and Rab seeking Tk 462 crore for carrying out election duties,” Abdul Momin Sarkar, senior assistant secretary (budget) at the Election Commission, told The Daily Star.

He said Border Guard Bangladesh asked for Tk 73 crore for the same purpose.

Members of the police, Rab, Ansar & VDP, BGB, Coast Guard and several intelligence agencies will be deployed during the December 30 election. Besides, the army will also be deployed.

“We are yet to receive a budget proposal from the army,” Momin added.

He said the EC would finalise the budget for the law enforcement agencies after holding a meeting with them on December 13.  

EC officials estimated that around 6 lakh law enforcers would be deployed for election duties. 

They said a total of Tk 265 crore was spent, including Tk 183 crore for law enforcers, during the 10th parliamentary polls in 2014.

Election expenses were low at that time as 153 out of 300 lawmakers were elected uncontested, the officials added.

Meanwhile, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed yesterday said all the law enforcement agencies would place their budgets within a week.

Talking to reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban following a meeting with law enforcers on their budgets, he said the EC would provide 100 percent money to the Ansar & VDP in advance and 50 percent in advance to the rest of the law enforcement forces.

The EC will also have to spend money on printing ballots and buying other election materials as well as paying overtime bills to its officials and employees.   

RESIGNATION OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

Helal Uddin said a district council chairman, upazila chairman, or a municipality mayor would have to resign before submitting nomination papers for contesting the national election as each of them was holding an “office of profit”.

The EC has already sent directives to all the returning officers in this regard, he said.

NO SHOWDOWN

On the eve of the last day (today) for submitting nomination papers, the EC secretary said no one would be allowed to bring out processions or stage showdowns during filing of nominations.

Bringing out processions or staging showdowns using buses, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles would not be permitted. Besides, no one would be allowed to bring out torch processions, he added.

“We will take actions against any violation of the electoral code of conduct.”  

Helal Uddin said setting up of election campaign offices ahead of the distribution of electoral symbols among the candidates would be a violation of the electoral code. “We have asked the returning officers to take action against the parties and the probable candidates involved in such acts.”

He said only the chiefs of political parties would be allowed to use helicopters for travelling. But they would not be permitted to distribute leaflets, posters and drape banners from choppers. 

NO BAR ON WAJ MAHFIL

The EC yesterday sent a letter to returning officers saying that it didn't impose any restriction on holding of waj mahfils or any such religious gatherings.

The commission has urged all to arrange religious gatherings or waj mahfils after the December 30 parliamentary polls.

The letter also said those who have already got approval can arrange waj mahfils and other religious gatherings. But no one will be allowed to make any political statement or conduct election campaigns in favour of any candidate.