The Election Commission yesterday asked all political parties and lawmaker hopefuls to remove their posters, banners and all kinds of campaign materials within next seven days at their own initiative.

The EC also sent letters to all registered political parties to inform it within three days whether they wanted to contest the December 23 parliamentary polls under any political alliance.

Talking to reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said, “Bringing out processions and staging showdowns are prohibited until the candidates are allotted electoral symbols on November 30.”

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No political party or candidate can start campaigning before the allocation of electoral symbols, he added.

The EC in a circular yesterday said all aspirant candidates should remove banners, posters, billboards, graffiti, arches and illuminations by midnight on November 14 at their own cost.

“If anyone fails to comply with the directive, the Election Commission will take stern action against him for violating the electoral code of conduct,” Helal Uddin said.

Asked if any leader from a nonregistered political party could contest the election, he said, “The EC cannot bar a candidate from taking part in the election if he is nominated by any registered political party.”

He said they have already cancelled the leave of all EC officials and employees.

On Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced that the 11th Jatiya Sangsad polls would be held on December 23.

According to the polls schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers is November 19. The returning officers will scrutinise the nominations on November 22 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 29.